Glentoran goalkeeper sent off for attacking ex-Hearts man and team-mate after conceding goal

Glentoran goalkeeper Aaron McCarey was sent off during his side’s 2-2 draw with Coleraine in the Danske Bank Premiership – after attacking his own team-mate, former Hearts defender Bobby Burns, after conceding a goal.

Bobby Burns in action for Hearts

With ten minutes to play in the league match at The Oval, Cathair Friel equalised for the visitors after Burns lost the ball on the half-way line as he attempted to control a pass from team-mate and former Hibs midfielder Gael Bigirimana.

Conor McKendry had given Coleraine, managed by one-time St Mirren boss Oran Kearney, the lead after a quarter of an hour before a Jay Donnelly double turned things around for Mick McDermott's side but after Friel had struck to level matters, McCarey rushed towards Burns and appeared to grab him by the neck and knock him to the ground, before seemingly dragging him along the ground by the shirt.

Two other Glentoran players intervened, pulling the former Ross County man away from the 22-year-old who lay motionless on the turf.

After a discussion with the linesman, referee Andrew Davey gave former Republic of Ireland Under-21 internationalist McCarey his marching orders, with furious Glentoran fans on social media urging the club to sack the 29-year-old.

Burns left Hearts in August 2020 for English side Barrow but joined Glens on loan two months later. He made the move permanent this summer despite suffering a double leg-break last November.

McCarey began his career with Monaghan United and had spells with Wolves, Telford, Walsall, York City, Portsmouth, and Bury before spending two seasons in Dingwall, leaving in 2018.

He joined Glens this summer after stints with Warrenpoint Town, Dundalk, and Cliftonville.

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