There to enjoy game, not cause trouble
In the intervening 31 years, between hurling and football, I've been lucky enough to attend well over 50 finals and many other games as well.
On Monday last I was privileged to be among the 17,000 people who saw a sumptuous feast of hurling.
The appetiser between Kerry and Antrim was good and the final between Kilkenny and Tipperary even better.
This was one of the finest games of hurling I have ever seen, pace, passion, skill, superb scores, great saves and end-to-end action.
As a Corkman I went as a neutral observer but quickly I was applauding outstanding hurling from both teams. This was hurling, this was sport, this was pure magic.
The only sour note on an otherwise magnificent day was the instructions given to and obeyed by the field stewards on the pitch.
Minutes before the end of the game a "Fogra" came over the PA system telling all stewards on the field to take up their "game end position and stand facing the crowd" yes, facing the crowd!
I thought this was the most disgusting, intimidating, inflammatory and insulting action I have ever seen in Croke Park.
Was a riot expected?
Were the "hooligans" from the four competing counties going to attack someone?
We pride ourselves in the GAA and rightly so on our great fans.
This insensitive action (it was the same for the NFL final on Sunday) was like giving a two-finger salute to the crowd.
John Arnold,
Bartlemy,
Fermoy,
Co Cork.
