Harrington hits out at ‘unfair’ Dublin bashing

COUNTY Chairman Gerry Harrington last night jumped to the defence of the Dublin players criticised for taunting their opponents and inciting the crowd during Sunday’s Leinster SFC triumph over Laois.

Harrington described the incidents as “spur of the moment things which happened in the heat of battle”.

Mark Vaughan, Dublin’s top scorer with 1-6, was involved in the first incident when he taunted Darren Rooney after scoring his sides first goal.

Later in the game, while play was at the other end of the field, Alan Brogan and substitute Kevin Bonner were engaged in ‘verbals’ before gesticulating towards Dubs supporters at the Canal End.

After the referee’s attention was drawn to the incident, he issued a yellow card to Bonner.

The initial response from Harrington was to point out that a similar incident occurred in the Kerry/Armagh All-Ireland quarter-final last year, involving ‘a Kerry forward.’

“It happened in the Ulster final on Sunday too,’’ he commented. “It’s unfair that Dublin players should be singled out in this regard.’’

However, when it was put to him that what happened in Croke Park didn’t look well, he said: “I would agree. We would not encourage our players to do that.

“However, players are players. They come under fierce pressure and, in the spur of the moment, these things can happen.’’

The Leinster Council Chairman Liam O’Neill described the incidents as “regrettable” and hit out at former Dubs boss and Sunday Game TV panellist Tommy Lyons for diluting the incidents by insisting that ‘verbals’ are part and parcel of the modern game.

O’Neill revealed that he has received phone calls and emails of complaint and he believes that managers are partly to blame for sending their players onto the field of play in an over-hyped state of mind.

O’Neill reflected: “It’s regrettable and I don’t accept one of the men on the Sunday Game saying that verbals are part of the game.”

He added: “It (goading) has no place in our games and it’s not part of sportsmanship.

“There’s the quiet word in the ear and then there’s the loud, in your face response.

“It has to be stopped and can only be stopped by managers.

“It’s creeping in more and more and in senior games more than anywhere else.

“And what are managers saying to players to send them into such a hyped state?

“Years ago, if you scored a goal you’d smile to yourself quietly and then walk back to your position.”

O’Neill is unsure if action will be taken against Sunday’s main offenders.

“It wasn’t under our (Leinster Council) control. The Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) control the senior championship while we look after minor, U21 and intermediate.

“I know there’s a rule governing ungentlemanly conduct which would come under the heading of ‘discrediting the association’ but I don’t know what action they will take, or even if they will take any.

“But I don’t think that any player who acts like that on the field of play is benefiting his county.”

It’s unlikely that the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) will take action, other than possibly issuing a general warning to players about behaviour on the field.

One official, who preferred to remain anonymous, said such incidents could be viewed as a form of incitement, which could cause a row between fans.