Galway vs Armagh Brawl:Tiernan Kelly Eye Gouge - Sunday Game Analysis

Courtesy - RTE Sunday Game
I do not own anything. Fair use applies

[@michaelodonnell824]

This is the THIRD time Armagh have been involved in a post match brawl THIS YEAR. In less than Six months and probably 10 games, the "Brave Men" from Armagh have shown their "masculinity" by acting in a way that if they had acted in that way on the streets of Armagh, would RIGHTLY lead to Police Batton Charges and Criminal Convictions. And McGeeney and the THUGS on the Armagh County Board SUPPORT this THUGGERY. And the Eye Gouger is also being DEFENDED by both the Armagh County Board and his Club. He is, we are lead to believe, "A Lovely Fella", involved in "Coaching Underage players"! What does he coach them in - "How to take an opponents EYES out?! Sean Kavanagh said he might - at most - get a Six month suspension. Nice, especially when you consider that Armagh will play NO MORE Gaelic Football for OVER six months. If the GAA are SERIOUS about dealing with this kind of THUGGERY, Armagh should face a Massive, Exemplary FINE (the only thing the GAA cares about is MONEY). Furthermore, the Eye Gouger should be forced to (a) Admit Publicly that he is a THUG; and (b) face a Suspension starting at 3 - 5 YEARS and possibly a LIFETIME Ban from ALL GAA activities. Of course, NONE of that will happen. Ulster Football has a LONG RECORD of on and off field violence and the GAA NEVER before took any action to stop it - Why would they start now? More likely, Comer, the VICTIM of Eye Gouger will probably face pressure to DENY ANYTHING happened or he, himself will face a suspension. Meanwhile, Armagh will be CONGRATULATED on their "wonderful, manly physicality"! Keep on hitting Boys - one of these days, Armagh and McGeeney will walk over the Dead Bodies of all they have killed to pick up an All Ireland!!!

[@killianthefootballgenius5926]

Galway started the fight though...

[@liamkeane9159]

Brilliant. AFL LAFFING

[@damienocallaghan2648]

I Don't care how young he is and someone excuses him for a heat of the moment incident. It is indefensible and hopefully he will get a long long ban

[@creativeunicorn5551]

100% agree with your comment.

[@dco1929]

they need better panelists , ones concerned about the sport , absolute disgrace .

[@niallsimpson6001]

The comments from the RTE panel suggest that such bravado is acceptable - up to a point. The GAA has created this environment for itself. Off-the-ball shoving and 'bravado' have long been regarded as part of the game. The GAA need to look at the more physical game of rugby union to properly understand what 'discipline' and respect is all about. Referees in rugby tend to have a much better control of a game than GAA referees. However, the GAA referees need the full support of the GAA to change the culture of the game.

[@mob3144]

The referees are there to make these decisions and don't. They invariably let infractions pass because of bias. The GAA need to retrain referees and clamp down on obvious favouritism.

[@michaelodonnell824]

There is NO OTHER SPORT in the World where, as soon as a Substitute is introduced, they need IMMEDIATELY defend themselves from Physical Assault from their opponents who IMMEDIATELY Shoulder Charge them! There is NO OTHER SPORT where taking a Player out off the Ball is considered Legitimate. Back in the 90s or early noughties, in an All Ireland final, we witnessed the Mayo Free Taker being assaulted IMMEDIATELY after he had kicked the Free by a Variety of Kerry players - NO ONE, not commentators, analysists, referee, umpires, reporters or even the Mayo management objected. By the time that Free Taker was taking his third free kick, his mind was so focussed on the Kerry Thug in the process of Shoulder Charging him, he missed a relatively easy kick. After the match, virtually every pundit criticised the Free Taker's "Accuracy" - NOT ONE said ANYTHING about the Physical Assaults he was forced to endure! In 1988, Cork and Meath played out a draw and a replay in the All Ireland Final. One of the Meath players on the day was Mr "Butter wouldn't melt in my mouth" Colm O'Rourke. EVERY commentator on the day called it the MOST VIOLENT Football match they had ever witnessed. Frankly, the Ball was an optional extra in the Replay as both the Cork and Meath players kicked lumps out of each other. In 2018, that EXEMPLARY Football Pundit described that Vicious Violence as one of the Top TEN All Ireland Finals EVER. Gaelic Games (and Hurling is just as bad) involve a level of Violence that would be UTTERLY Unacceptable in any other sport. Every OTHER sport has made enormous strides to reduce the level of violence on the pitch (If you get a chance, look at the severity of tackles allowed at the World Cups in 1962, 1966, and 1970). Rugby, mainly under the looming threat of enormous Legal Damages, has spent much of the last TWENTY years trying to REDUCE the severity of Collisions. Meanwhile, in Gaelic Games, reducing "physicality" is seen as a "Betrayal" of the Spirit of the Games. So, a Dublin team that had success by keeping and moving the Ball rather than charging into their opponents, were a THREAT to Football and Football became "Boring" (aka "Skilful"). Meanwhile, in Hurling we have a Limerick team who has gained success and Plaudits because of their "Physicality" meaning that when they swing their hurleys, they really don't care whether they hit the Sliothar or an opponent! The ONLY thing that will FORCE the GAA to ATTEMPT to reduce the on and off-field violence is when Former Players start SUING. It's definitely coming - Soccer is facing it, Rugby is facing it, American Football is DEEP in Legal cases. Wait - it's coming down the tracks and then...the GAA will do what its' ALWAYS done and DEMAND a Hand-out from the Irish Taxpayers!

[@CENTRIX4]

Ireland Gaelic Games Broadcasting Publish the highlights in 2K and 4K for people to view on a projector. 1080p is grossly inadequate to view on a projector. The highlights will be viewed for years to come thus invest in a tech upgrade for spectators and broadcast in 2K and 4K if possible 8K. Tech upgrade required! ===== Dynamic pricing for the games. Reduce the ticket price and allow more people to attend at a reduced price. Decades behind the curve regarding dynamic pricing for the matches! ===== Publish the attendance of each game when you post the games on KZbin. =====

[@seanmckenna4155]

It's not Wimbledon!!

[@darragho6358]

No but in properly rough sports like rugby you never see anything like this why because it's punished just for that shoulder by the Galway man on the Armagh number 3 you'd be off. Or look at basketball where coming off the bench to get involved in anyway is a striaght ban and suspension for 1 game.

[@seanmckenna4155]

It's hardly Wimbledon