Darren Hughes never spoke to Tiernan McCann after the famous dive

Monaghan’s star, Darren Hughes, believes he “may have suffered a concussion” when he was fired in 2015 for pulling Ternan McCain’s hair.

The veteran midfielder was shamefully sent off for touching McCann’s hair during Monaghan’s defeat in Ireland’s quarter-final against Tyrone.

McCain fell theatrically to the ground in the Red Hands’ late four-point win and Hughes appeared in red, although the penalty kick was later lifted.

Hughes, who started all seven of Monaghan’s league games this year, revealed on the GAA Social podcast that he believes he suffered a concussion shortly before the accident.

“Ritchie Donnelly and I sum it up a few minutes ago and I probably had a concussion,” said Hughes, whose main memory recalled a look of disgust at manager Malak O’Rourke.

“I’ll never forget Malachi’s face when I got a red card, it was just a disappointment. I said ‘I got hurt here.’ It was maybe six or eight minutes for two points. The match.

Tap the team when it comes to discipline and keep 15 on the field, then in the locker room and whatever happens, turn on the phone and jump on what happened.

What you did and what you were about to do could be two different things! He gave it to me when I went out to leave the team and I think it was a complete mess.

“When I opened the phone and saw it (the accident), it was like, ‘Jazz, it wasn’t really that bad. “I didn’t hit him.”

Hughes may eventually be lucky enough to be mistakenly released because second-impact syndrome (SIS) – which can occur after repeated concussions – can be fatal.

“I didn’t think so clearly,” Hughes said of the episode. “My memory is blurred. You can see when I come the blood is spurting from the back of my neck. I might have had a concussion, yeah.”

Hughes admitted his involvement in the hype was “unforgivable”, though McCain “bear all the daring” after his reaction.

The duo has never talked about what happened since then.

“I heard he got my number, but here it was hot,” Hughes said.

“I’m not talking about it now, I don’t know. I’d have a lot of friends at Tyrone’s panel and they would know what I’m thinking. But like I said, no, now it doesn’t bother me.”