WATCH: Rathnure midfielder sent off for hit after two SECONDS of All-Ireland semi-final

Rathnure were up against Galway side Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry, with both battling it out for a place in January’s All-Ireland intermediate hurling final in Croke Park.

O’Connor was brought in as one of three changes to the Rathnure side that had seen off Lisdowney in the Leinster final at the beginning of December, but his outing in Tullamore’s O’Connor Park on Saturday was less than brief.

Referee Conor Doyle threw the ball in and after two seconds – going by TG4’s TV scoreboard which had flashed up a split-second later – the midfielder connected with Shane Moloney as the center field foursome scrapped for the opening possession.

With the ref immediately blowing his whistle and summoning O’Connor towards him, there was shock moments later as he brandished the red card for arguably the earliest marching orders ever seen in a GAA game.

That was a premature knockback for the fancied Rathnure side and matters got worse in the second half when they were reduced to 13 men, with Sean O’Connor getting the line for a high tackle.

The impetus was handed to the Galway side and they duly responded, going on to notch an eight-point win to seal their place in the decider, where they will face Cork side Watergrasshill.

Afterward, referee Doyle was escorted off the field by stewards as boos rang out around O’Connor Park.

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.