UPDATE: Laois football manager Justin McNulty confirms decision on Brian Byrne red card appeal

Laois senior football manager Justin McNulty has revealed to the Leinster Express/ Laois Live that they will not be appealing the red card shown to senior football captain Brian Byrne in Laois' Allianz Football League Division 3 Round 4 clash against Clare at Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis on Sunday, February 23.

Byrne received a straight red in the 22nd minute following an off-the-ball incident with Clare centre-back Ikem Ugwueru. The Laois captain looked perplexed when shown the red card by Galway referee James Molloy, but Laois have opted to accept the ruling.

At the time of the dismissal, Laois were leading 0-5 to 0-4 and playing with a strong wind behind them. Despite being reduced to 14 men for much of the game, Laois matched Clare blow for blow. By half-time, Laois held a narrow 0-9 to 0-8 advantage.

The second half saw Evan O’Carroll score a spectacular goal, only for Clare to hit seven points in seven minutes, including a brace of two-pointers, to take a three-point lead. Laois goalkeeper Killian Roche added an incredible two-point free into the wind, and a flurry of action saw both sides reduced to 14 men after Cillian Brennan received a black card, while Laois were awarded a penalty.

O’Carroll, who finished as Laois’ top scorer with 1-5, missed a penalty for the second weekend running, following his failure to convert from the spot against Sligo the weekend previous. Laois, however, responded with a fine team goal finished by Paddy O’Sullivan, assisted by Paul Kingston and O’Carroll, to regain the lead.

READ NEXT: The full match report from Sunday's game

Clare ultimately took advantage of the wind in the closing stages as they raised two more orange flags to ultimately win by three in the end. O'Carroll had a chance to level the game in the 69th minute, but saw his free go wide and Clare were able to go up the other end to get the last two scores.

Byrne will miss Saturday evening’s Division 3 clash against Westmeath, with Portarlington’s Ronan Coffey, having come on as a second half substitute against Clare, likely to take his place at centre-forward.

This is what McNulty had said about the red card incident shortly after full-time in Ennis.

“I've seen the tape, I've seen the video, and it looks innocuous enough. I do think there might have been an accidental collision, purely accidental, and that's not a red card offence in anyone’s book. I hope that can be reviewed, rectified and corrected because Brian Byrne does not have a dirty bone in his body. He plays the game tough and hard, but he plays by the rules. It was tough, a big blow to the team, but the fellas to their credit, dug in and didn't let that derail them.”

READ NEXT: 'Evan’s a winner'- Justin McNulty stands by Laois' Evan O'Carroll after penalty miss against Clare

Laois currently sit seventh in Division 3 with three points from a possible eight, and face a challenging run-in: Westmeath on Saturday, Fermanagh in Enniskillen, and a final game against top-of-the-table Down.

The last meeting between Laois and Westmeath came on June 7, 2025, in a Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-final at TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar, where Westmeath defeated Laois by 17 points to end their 2025 season.

Laois and Westmeath will throw in at 6pm on Saturday, February 28, in Laois Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.