Ian Mallon: Irish television audiences are suckers for a punch-up

FIGURES: Irish television audiences are suckers for a punch-up. Photo: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

YES it’s ugly, it’s unsavoury and it’s not great for the GAA and its stakeholders. But the Irish sports viewer is enthralled by violence on the GAA pitch and particularly when an epic battle on the pitch becomes all-out war - and here’s why.

For the Galway v Armagh All Ireland quarter final at Croke Park on June 26, a third of the overall audience tuned in to watch the end of the game than had viewed the match throughout (on average), as both sets of players and benches embarked on a free-for-all at the tunnel.