There’s no GAA show like a Joe show

SINCE the All-Ireland football championship season started, there have been a fair few arguments and rows but probably the weirdest (and the funniest) came after Sean Cavanagh “rugby tackled” Conor McManus last weekend and of course, the one and only Joe Brolly had to have his say.

Mon, 12 Aug, 2013 - 01:00

Joanne O’Riordan

Although I was at the match with my friend and parents, I must say it didn’t take long for me to notice Joe Brolly had done or said something controversial (for a change!) as he was trending in Ireland on Twitter. I didn’t really know what it was about, but I took a guess that it was about Tyrone as my friend Aisling constantly pointed out Tyrone’s roughness. Even though I immediately shushed her and told her “physicality” was the word when you are surrounded by Tyrone supporters, I really did agree with her. Then of course in the middle of our “physicality or roughness” debate, we heard an almighty roar from Monaghan supporters, screaming “Cavanagh must go!” I couldn’t help but feel sorry for Cavanagh, it’s not his fault he wasn’t sent off, but of course I did feel sorry for McManus and the Monaghan squad.

Following on from that, you had the almighty tirade by Joe Brolly questioning Cavanagh’s manliness, giving out about Mickey Harte [which was a bit unnecessary, sorry Joe] and much more awkward, yet at times hilarious, comments.

So, who’s in the wrong? Is the ref wrong? Is Brolly wrong for going mad? Is Cavanagh wrong? And the answer is no for all three.

If I was a referee I would have sent Cavanagh off because I’d probably refer to soccer’s rule which doesn’t allow for that sort of behaviour. But, then, this is GAA not soccer, so it’s a yellow card. Maybe we need a last-man-on-goal rule. Take a look at soccer — red card after red card after red card. It’s still being done by the top sports players. The most recent incident I saw was during the Confedarations Cup Final where Gerard Pique got sent off for tackling the last man in on goal. In fairness, if you found yourself in that position where you had to choose between a crazy tackle or letting the opposition in on goal, 99% of players would go for the crazy tackle.

As for Monaghan supporters, all I can do is sympathise with them. But, it’s sport, and as cruel as it is, I hope they take it on the chin, move on, and get ready for another year. As for Brolly ... well, as my mother’s idol Joe Dolan said: “There ain’t no show like a Joe show!”