| Cúl – A letter from Dublin. |
By Geariod Devitt
July 19, 2010
According to the 2000 U.S. Census over 41million Americans claim Irish
ancestry. Hopefully you are one of these and will enjoy my fortnightly look at
sports in the land of your forefathers. If not, hopefully I will catch your attention as
I look at the big talking points in our sports obsessed nation and introduce you
to our native games (hurling and Gaelic football) and the crazy world of the
domestic soccer league.
The G.A.A.(Gaelic Athletic Association) sports of hurling and Gaelic football are
the most followed games in Ireland. Being the largest amateur sporting
organisation in the world, its national stadium (Croke Park, Dublin –capacity
82,300) is the third largest stadium in Europe.
Note: Cúl (pronounced ‘cool’) is the Irish word for goal. As I couldn’t think of any
other witty title which was neither cringe-inducing or just plain blarney pleases
feel free to e-mail in any suggestions!
When is a goal not a goal?
The only talking point after last weekend’s G.A.A. action is the dramatic end to
Sunday’s Leinster Senior (Gaelic) Football Final in Croke Park. Traditionally the
Munster Hurling Final(also played on Sunday) would grab the sporting
headlines, especially after a last minute goal scored by a 37 year old veteran
defender tied the game but events in Thurles were completely overshadowed by
what had preceded at G.A.A. headquarters earlier in the afternoon.
Louth Gaelic footballers were taking part in their first provincial (or divisional
final) final for the first time in 53 years. After a barnstorming display, the 4/1
underdogs held a 1-point lead over Meath, their more successful neighbours
and bitterest of rivals, as the game was deep into injury time. It would be unfair
and probably impossible to put into words for the G.A.A. novice the goal mouth
scramble that enused after Meath launched one last attack into the Louth
‘square’, so I retreat to the youtube link –
‘Goal’ –
Aftermatch drama -
After that Superman- like block from Louth captain Paddy Keenan, Meath
forward Joe Sheridan bundled the ball into the Louth goal in a clear breach of
the rules of the game. In both codes the ball must be struck/or kicked over the
line. Definitely not carried which was clearly the case here. Referee Martin
Sludden awarded a goal without even consulting the goal-side umpires (the men
in white coats, who are there to assist the referee in the awarding of scores) and
blew the final whistle almost simultaneously. Sheridan’s effort was literally the
last ‘kick’ of the game giving Meath an unjust victory.
Disgraceful scenes followed as some Louth supporters entered the field and
attempted to strike the referee. The G.A.A. prides itself on its family atmosphere
at big occasions and there is no enforced segregation of opposition supporters
or history of hooliganism. However referring officials have been the subject of
isolated vicious attacks throughout the country and this was probably the most
high profile of all time. Although incensed with the decision, Louth manager
Justin Fitzpatrick managed to protect the referee to some extent although
Sludden was said to be visibly shaken after receiving a number of shoves from
irate ‘fans’.
The Gardai (Irish police force) were preparing for a pitch invasion (a G.A.A.
tradition after a long period without success) of Louth fans to rejoice at their
victory and were congregated at the presentation area in anticipation of
preventing a crush. In the madness of the aftermath of his decision, only one
Garda came to the protection of Sludden and he was eventually escorted off the
filed under a hail of plastic bottles from Louth supporters. A voluntary steward
was knocked out by an offending missile but thankfully the damage was not
serious.
A Garda investigation is pending into the various incidents which occurred after
the final-whistle, but there has been an outcry in G.A.A. circles for the match to
either be replayed or awarded to Louth. In Monday’s newspapers the World Cup
Final was completely overshadowed by events in Croke Park with only national
featuring Spain’s victory on its front page.
Under the out-dated rules the central G.A.A. authority or the Leinster Council
have no means of forcing Meath into a replay unless they offer one to Louth
independently. In a classic example of G.A.A. administrators passing the buck
the ‘Royal County’ was pressurised into this grand gesture by the association
after releasing the a statement in which Sludden admitted to making ‘a
mistake’. The Meath county board refused to be gracious and allowed the
players and management make the decision. Although it was far from
unanimous the Meath panel refused and have now been scapegoat-ed as the
villains in the piece.
Thierry Henry’s handball still plays fresh in Irish sporting minds and Meath did
have the chance to win plaudits from all sides by offering a replay. However they
are well within their rights to retain their medals as a reply would be only paying
lip-service to the populous outcry and would serve little real purpose. It is not the
end of the road for Louth as they will now enter the qualifiers in the hope of
progressing to face Meath once again in the later stages of the Championships
and setting the record straight.
Arising from this controversy, my own hope is the G.A.A. will tackle the problem
of officiating at it’s fixtures. Sludden was clearly unfit for the task on Sunday and
the traditional system of the referee appointing his umpires has to be changed.
Usually these are the ref’s close friends and leads to cronyism and as a result,
incompetence. It will be of little conciliation to Louth if these measures are taken,
but unfortunately sport, like life can sometimes be cruelly unjust.
July 19, 2010
According to the 2000 U.S. Census over 41million Americans claim Irish
ancestry. Hopefully you are one of these and will enjoy my fortnightly look at
sports in the land of your forefathers. If not, hopefully I will catch your attention as
I look at the big talking points in our sports obsessed nation and introduce you
to our native games (hurling and Gaelic football) and the crazy world of the
domestic soccer league.
The G.A.A.(Gaelic Athletic Association) sports of hurling and Gaelic football are
the most followed games in Ireland. Being the largest amateur sporting
organisation in the world, its national stadium (Croke Park, Dublin –capacity
82,300) is the third largest stadium in Europe.
Note: Cúl (pronounced ‘cool’) is the Irish word for goal. As I couldn’t think of any
other witty title which was neither cringe-inducing or just plain blarney pleases
feel free to e-mail in any suggestions!
When is a goal not a goal?
The only talking point after last weekend’s G.A.A. action is the dramatic end to
Sunday’s Leinster Senior (Gaelic) Football Final in Croke Park. Traditionally the
Munster Hurling Final(also played on Sunday) would grab the sporting
headlines, especially after a last minute goal scored by a 37 year old veteran
defender tied the game but events in Thurles were completely overshadowed by
what had preceded at G.A.A. headquarters earlier in the afternoon.
Louth Gaelic footballers were taking part in their first provincial (or divisional
final) final for the first time in 53 years. After a barnstorming display, the 4/1
underdogs held a 1-point lead over Meath, their more successful neighbours
and bitterest of rivals, as the game was deep into injury time. It would be unfair
and probably impossible to put into words for the G.A.A. novice the goal mouth
scramble that enused after Meath launched one last attack into the Louth
‘square’, so I retreat to the youtube link –
‘Goal’ –
Aftermatch drama -
After that Superman- like block from Louth captain Paddy Keenan, Meath
forward Joe Sheridan bundled the ball into the Louth goal in a clear breach of
the rules of the game. In both codes the ball must be struck/or kicked over the
line. Definitely not carried which was clearly the case here. Referee Martin
Sludden awarded a goal without even consulting the goal-side umpires (the men
in white coats, who are there to assist the referee in the awarding of scores) and
blew the final whistle almost simultaneously. Sheridan’s effort was literally the
last ‘kick’ of the game giving Meath an unjust victory.
Disgraceful scenes followed as some Louth supporters entered the field and
attempted to strike the referee. The G.A.A. prides itself on its family atmosphere
at big occasions and there is no enforced segregation of opposition supporters
or history of hooliganism. However referring officials have been the subject of
isolated vicious attacks throughout the country and this was probably the most
high profile of all time. Although incensed with the decision, Louth manager
Justin Fitzpatrick managed to protect the referee to some extent although
Sludden was said to be visibly shaken after receiving a number of shoves from
irate ‘fans’.
The Gardai (Irish police force) were preparing for a pitch invasion (a G.A.A.
tradition after a long period without success) of Louth fans to rejoice at their
victory and were congregated at the presentation area in anticipation of
preventing a crush. In the madness of the aftermath of his decision, only one
Garda came to the protection of Sludden and he was eventually escorted off the
filed under a hail of plastic bottles from Louth supporters. A voluntary steward
was knocked out by an offending missile but thankfully the damage was not
serious.
A Garda investigation is pending into the various incidents which occurred after
the final-whistle, but there has been an outcry in G.A.A. circles for the match to
either be replayed or awarded to Louth. In Monday’s newspapers the World Cup
Final was completely overshadowed by events in Croke Park with only national
featuring Spain’s victory on its front page.
Under the out-dated rules the central G.A.A. authority or the Leinster Council
have no means of forcing Meath into a replay unless they offer one to Louth
independently. In a classic example of G.A.A. administrators passing the buck
the ‘Royal County’ was pressurised into this grand gesture by the association
after releasing the a statement in which Sludden admitted to making ‘a
mistake’. The Meath county board refused to be gracious and allowed the
players and management make the decision. Although it was far from
unanimous the Meath panel refused and have now been scapegoat-ed as the
villains in the piece.
Thierry Henry’s handball still plays fresh in Irish sporting minds and Meath did
have the chance to win plaudits from all sides by offering a replay. However they
are well within their rights to retain their medals as a reply would be only paying
lip-service to the populous outcry and would serve little real purpose. It is not the
end of the road for Louth as they will now enter the qualifiers in the hope of
progressing to face Meath once again in the later stages of the Championships
and setting the record straight.
Arising from this controversy, my own hope is the G.A.A. will tackle the problem
of officiating at it’s fixtures. Sludden was clearly unfit for the task on Sunday and
the traditional system of the referee appointing his umpires has to be changed.
Usually these are the ref’s close friends and leads to cronyism and as a result,
incompetence. It will be of little conciliation to Louth if these measures are taken,
but unfortunately sport, like life can sometimes be cruelly unjust.
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