SIDELINES
‘Never in all my time have I heard of an official who sent off 10 players’
I’VE been following Gaelic football now for 40-odd years since around about the mid seventies.
During that time I’ve witnessed all sorts of games, all kinds of players and every type of incident imaginable.
Down through the years I observed many tough players, dirty players and downright dangerous players on the field of play. I’ve also seen all types of supporters who range from the passive compliant type to the delusional fanatic.
And finally, match day officials. I thought I saw them all.
My own personal relationship with referees was never less than cordial but we did have our problems.
My preference was always for an official who understood what was going on and allowed the action to flow. Someone who didn’t wish to be the centre of attention, but who could be firm when the situation demanded it.
Pernickety or finicky individuals who regularly split hairs are not suited to the role.
In my youth I recall many rough and tumble matches where the proverbial skin and hair was flying and I even recall experiencing a sense of fear on some occasions.
I remember a late 70s or early 80s Clans/ Cooley game in Dowdallshill where all hell broke loose between players and spectators.
I remember a particularly nasty Dundalk Young Irelands tournament game in the Marist grounds in Dundalk between two Northern teams where both sides knocked lumps off each other and a spectator lynch mob chased the referee from the field.
In my playing days I was involved in all sorts of unsavoury matches where players, spectators and officials didn’t always observe the codes prescribed under the official GAA handbook or indeed the Marquess of Queensbury rules.
But never in all my time have I heard of an official who sent 10 players off in the same game.
In last Saturday’s Leinster Intermediate club championship tie at the Grove in Castlebellingham Kildare referee Noel McKenna issued six red cards to Kilbride (Carlow) and four reds to the home side O’Connell’s.
Now maybe it’s a little unfair of me to cast judgement when I wasn’t present on the day, but O’Connell’s are not a dirty or even physical side.
And according to my Carlow sources neither are Kilbride.
Most people’s immediate reaction was that there must have been carnage at the venue - Gardai, ambulances, emergency services and the riot squad. But far from it. I spoke to several attendees who reported nothing of the sort.
Just an over-zealous official who lost control of proceedings - and the run of himself!!
To finish the game with nine on one side and eleven on the other is farcical and embarrassing.
It will be interesting to see how the powers-that-be deal with it. HURRICANE Ophelia and Storm Brian dictated the outcome of many sporting events in the week just past with almost the entire country going into lockdown on Monday and Saturday last.
All schools and businesses closed and most sporting and social events were cancelled. As it turned out it was the south and west who bore the worst of the weather system with the east and north getting off relatively unscathed.
There was however a terrible tragedy in Ravensdale where former Pats player Fintan Goss lost his life when his car was hit by a fallen tree.
I knew Fintan and he was a lovely lad. He was a brother of former Louth full back and captain Colin.
I extend my deepest sympathies to his wife and family.