Pat Hoban after collecting the SWAI Player of the Month award last season
Dundalk striker Pat Hoban has taken to Twitter to insist he did not mean to intentionally hurt Derry City defender Ryan McBride in last night’s 3-0 victory at Oriel Park.
The pair clashed heads in the 29th minute with a 13 minute stoppage ensuing as both players required treatement.
McBride by far came out worse from the incident though having swallowed his tongue before being stretchered off and taken to Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda.
After the game, a number of Candystripes fans took to Twitter to hit out at Hoban with threats and abuse towards the Galway native.
The situation wasn’t helped by an interview which Derry City boss Roddy Collins gave after the game, in which he branded Hoban as “cowardly”.
“I believe he done him,” said the Derry boss before adding that he felt the referee Tom Connolly “bottled it” by not sending off the striker, who had already been booked for an earlier challenge on the defender.
Commenting on Twitter this morning, Hoban explained that he was jumping in the air to contest the ball and didn’t mean to hurt anyone.
He said: “To say I went on to the pitch to hurt some1 is beyond ridiculous contesting for the ball nothing more. Hope Mcbride is okay #speedyrecovery.”
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