Angry Fans
WHERE WERE the thousands of Cork fans missing from Croke Park on Sunday who failed to support one of the best teams of Gaelic footballers in the country? What could they have been doing that was more important or more enjoyable? They should be ashamed of themselves!! It is not an excuse to claim that they were tired out or broke from following the hurlers because you’re really talking about two different ends of the county.
Like many other fans, the vast majority of Cork supporters swallowed the pundits’ and bookies’ ‘line’ and gave Cork no chance. In his post-match interviews Billy Morgan couldn’t resist his usual ‘pop’ at ‘meeja’ commentators who got it badly wrong as well as at reluctant supporters. Except this time his criticism was justified. Cork have been knocking on the door of a football All-Ireland these past three years. Now that they’re in the final, it’s time for all Cork fans to rally behind them.
IS IT ONLY when Graham Geraghty is the alleged offender in a foul that referees and the ‘Sunday Game’ pundits pay any attention to him? On Sunday, he was almost floored by what looked like a dig from a Cork player yet the referee only booked the player. One rule for Graham and another for everyone else?
Relax. First off, aYellow Card for some uncharacteristic Meath paranoia and sour grapes.Who does this describe? ‘A fantastic footballer. Loved by all true fans in his county.A gentleman off the pitch. Sometimes gets carried away in the heat of a game.’ No. Not just Graham Geraghty. His Cork opponent, Noel O’Leary, fits that bill as well. The referee dealt with happened and Graham had no problem with it. Let’s wish Noel and Cork all the best in the final and not start stirring things off the field.
A FANTASTIC performance by our Cork footballers. However, we didn’t get the same from our so-called RTE experts. While Noel O’Leary’s incident with Graham Geraghty was highlighted, the ‘Sunday Game’ pundits’ blind spot was again on show. For example, nothing was made of Darren Fay’s cynical levelling of Kieran O’Connor after he scored his point in the second half. Amazingly, the referee took no action.There was no outcry from Pat Spillane & Co. ‘to have the matter looked into’. Please can we have more balanced analysis from our national broadcaster?
Overall, I thought referee Brian Crowe had a good game and exercised a wise discretion in the incidents you mention and we should all leave it at that. ‘The Sunday Game’ is , well, ‘The Sunday Game’… What more can be said?
WHY WAS THERE no band at Croke Park on Sunday to parade the teams and play the National Anthem? It shows a total lack of respect for the footballers of Kerry and Galway in the minor match and for Cork and Meath in the senior. This follows the recent downgrading of the Kilkenny vWexford hurling semi final in favour of the quarter final between Cork and Waterford. Do semi finals no longer matter in the cash crazy world of GAA officialdom?
Wouldn’t you think that hiring a band to play a few tunes on match days would be simple enough to organise? The GAA should be consistent.They can’t have bands for some semi-finals and not for others. Still, didn’t Elaine Canning do a great job singing the anthem without a band? She’s a niece of Meath mentor, Dudley Farrell, and a cousin of their star forward, Brian. No doubt, if she’d togged out for the second half she’d have performed better than some of the Royal stalwarts who came up short on the day.
THIS HAS BEEN building over twenty-five years, so forgive the rant, BUT... I have a pain in my backside getting abuse left right and centre for being a Dublin fan. Or, alternatively, and take your pick I've been called them all: a drunken Dub, a West Brit , a fair weather supporter and numerous others not worthy, or grammatically correct anyway, to type.
As a Dublin supporter, I’ve followed my county in all GAA codes for twenty-five years, regardless of their popularity or their successes on the pitch. I can count the number of matches I've missed on my right hand. That discounts the fair weather accusation, so.The West Brit I just don't get but believe me I was showered with that particular gem at a (believe it or not) Laois game!!! And as for the Drunken Dub. Well, I've had my fair share of drunken nights out in Dublin and other places, but I've never and would never consider going to a match with a few drinks on me. Sure wouldn't that just ruin it all I find I'm much more lucid when sober! Now, I realise all counties have their fair share of idiots.
However, we Dubs seem to get the brunt of the rubbish. I include the media, other fans and your good self at times (look at your headlines sometimes you seem to perpetuate the myth). I appreciate the need to sell papers, put bums on seats etc, but a tip from the top: If you want to see a REAL Dublin fan, get yourself over to Parnell Park for a football league match in March or April, or any of the hurlers’ games. There, you will find all that is good about Dublin GAA knowledgeable, passionate, diehard fans who will go to any lengths to support their team.
There are enough of our country friends living in the capital at this stage to come along to experience the proper Dublin home of GAA (and not Croker, as some people seem to think). We'd welcome them warmly as the Cork, Galway and Offaly supporters experienced this summer and maybe educate them at the same time. Rant over.
There, there. Twenty five years was a long time to keep it all bottled up. I’m glad we were able to help. And you’re right. The vast bulk of Dublin fans are decent people who love their games. Every county has their small percentage of yobs who misbehave but the Dubs seem to attract more scrutiny.
AS A LEAGUE season ticket holder with Dublin for both codes I would like to put across the views of what 'genuine' Dublin fans feel of the day tripper and scumbag supporters who flock to Croker in 'support' of the Dubs. Firstly, 80% of them couldn’t name a county hurler or even recognise most footballers if they passed them in the street. Secondly, their support, while great in noise when we're winning, is equally as frustrating when the team is behind and really needs support. It’s almost as if they expect Dublin to crush every team, which as we all know, just doesn't happen. As for the louts on The Hill abusing other fans, they're not welcome at any ground.These people give us all a bad name and it’s frustrating to hear people tar us all with the one brush.
Like every county we've a loyal support base, which’ll always be there regardless of the fortunes of the team so I’d appeal to the 'day trippers' to support the team, turn up on time and remember they're not professionals but lads giving their all forYOUR county. If we are beaten by Kerry, have the graciousness to applaud the Kingdom men off the pitch. It’s the GAA way. Waterford and Cork fans were a great example of this after their quarter final and it is the only way the reputation of Dublin fans can begin to change in the public view.
Good to see the real Dublin fans speaking out for themselves at last. Still, maybe we should wait and see how the Dinneen Hill Sixteen crew behaves against the Kingdom before giving them a complete pardon.
IN THE ‘Irish Examiner’ last Monday, GAA = ‘Great Admirable Athletes’. Waterford’s Dan Shanahan congratulates Limerick Manager Richie Bennis; Monaghan’s Thomas Freeman is comforted by Kerry’s Kieran Donaghy; Galway boss Mike Kelly went out of his way to shake the hand of all the Wexford camogie players; the joy of Richie Bennis and his daughter on the cover of the GAA supplement;Antrim celebrate winning the AllIreland Camogie Minor B Championship Final. You prepare to win and you accept if you lose in the GAA, the greatest amateur sports association in the world. Great and gender balanced coverage and photos in the ‘Irish Examiner’.
Thanks, Breda. Sometimes we can be a bit too ‘angry’ with the GAA and overlook the sheer excellence to our games.
I FIND IT a little patronising after the event to hear many of the media commentators praising Limerick. Prior to the semi final, all of them to a man or woman characterised Limerick as a tough bunch who would physically put it up to most teams but their lack of skill would let them down against classy Waterford or Cork. The hype about Cork amazed me.They were beaten fair and square twice. In fact, they failed to beat anyone of any consequence and still the media talked them up. Limerick are now in the final and they deserve to be there. Whatever the outcome my hope is that the media from now on will give them a fair crack of the whip.
Seamus, can you not just enjoy Limerick’s success without having a ‘go’ at someone else, whether it’s the ‘meeja’ or another team? Tick In The Book for that.
JUST WANT TO get this off my chest. There is no coverage what so ever in Limerick about our county camogie team. At least in Cork and Tipp you hear it on the radio the whole time when they are playing and on the papers. Limerick camogie just gets a small little piece in the ‘Limerick Leader’. It is a disgrace. In fairness, they train just as hard as the hurling team and the camogie team got to the Senior B semi final.
There seems to be a widespread view among Limerick GAA fans that their games are overshadowed by other sports – rugby, obviously – on local radio there. So, it seems to be more than just a ‘camogie’ problem. I can’t judge it at this distance. But I will say that any media organisation that neglects its GAA coverage – including camogie – is out of touch with its audience or readership and are just shooting themselves in both feet.
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