Angry Fans
And they’re not pleased with what happened at the Blackrock End of Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday. The Munster Council, too, gets lashed for fixing Clarev Limerick for Thurles rather than the Ennis Road and there’s controversy over the Anthem and the tradition of a minute’s silence before games.
DISGRACEFUL SCENES in Cork on Sunday. For Cork GAA not to be able to regulate supporters’ movements makes a mockery of us all. As it was, players had to make do with supporters encroaching around the goals, something they should not have to put up with at this level of the game.
THE MAIN problem I see with the terracing is that the entrances are all at the bottom and not in the middle like other stadiums. When the fans walked in, they looked up from the bottom of the terrace. They saw plenty of people, giving them the idea there was no room in the terrace.
Why is the GAA lavishing so much money on other venues in Munster while these major problems continue at Páirc Uí Cheacescu? It was built at a time when cash was short and we knew no better. It is now more of an insult to the memory of that great GAA man, Paddy O’Keeffe.
I WAS AT the Blackrock end and came in at 12.45, no problem at all. The crowd were very pleasant as were the stewards. How do people who arrive 10 minutes before throw in expect to get in anyway especially when it is a sell out crowd? I thought the influx was handled very well.
Fair play to the crowd behind the goals. They behaved well and even handed back the sliothars. However, it is not fair to them or to the players – especially the Tipp goalie – to have them on the pitch.
THE PROBLEM was too many people coming in too late.The minute's silence didn't help as it backed up the crowd getting on to the terrace as people stood still. The only lesson to be learned is that those with terrace tickets should be there in good time
THE REFURBISHMENT of the terracing to modern standards (as was done with the Hill in Croker) cannot come soon enough. If it wasn’t for the quick action of the stewards and Gardai something horrific was possible. I saw one man climb onto one of the gates and hand his young son down to a Garda on the other side.
You can’t just blame the problems on the fans or on the minute’s silence. The fact is, Páirc Uí Cheacescu is poorly designed and laid out and it badly needs a root-and-branch refurbishment, with the primary emphasis on everyone’s health and safety.
THE GARDA traffic management left a lot to be desired on Sunday but the thing that annoyed me the most was the old Cork fellow a couple of rows in front of me who left with a point between the teams to beat the traffic out. What’s the point of going?
The Páirc is a difficult venue for traffic management so let’s give the Gardai the benefit of the doubt since they made such a good ‘call’ on easing the pressure on the Blackrock terraces.
PÁIRC UÍ CHAOIMH is without doubt the worst stadium in Ireland to watch a match. It's decrepit and since the new seats were put in, it's completely unacceptable for anyone over 5'4" to be housed there. I'm only 5'8" and I can't sit straight in either the uncovered or the covered stand. God help anyone over 6'.
Maybe the seats were designed to accommodate those tiny football refs Colm O’Rourke was complaining about? CORK NEVER had a chance with the team they picked. It was a huge insult to a star like Joe Deane to bring him on with only four minutes to go. In that short time he made a mockery of his exclusion. Also letting young Paudie take the penalty reflects badly on the Manager and his selectors.
OUR SELECTORS must hold their hands up after this defeat. They made too many wrong calls. Taking Timmy off was very wrong. Should we have let the ball in low in the second half to Fraggy and Paudie ? I don't believe Tipp were six points a better team maybe two. Bring back Deano. We can 't afford his class and experience left on the bench.
Thanks Rockie and Michael. I’m glad someone has views on the game as well. Cork missed a lot of scoring chances. Maybe their strike rate is not what it used to be?
HOW SICKENING to see the Waterford players blaming the Manager. They should be ashamed of them selves.
THE LAST FEW days might signal a sad end to a great team who gave us so many memorable days, and I was hoping for one last great game against them, but can't see it happening now. Who is their Michael Bond?
IT ISA sad day for Waterford sport. Gerald McCarthy did a huge amount for Waterford hurling but Justin gave the players the belief that they belonged at the top table. He will never be forgotten within Waterford hurling circles.
I HOPE Waterford choose one of their own now. Then they can only blame themselves. I’m sick of listening to them blaming everyone for their shortfalls, dare I say, since July ‘98.
WHOEVER GETS the job I hope ‘The Waahs’ get back on track. The entertainment they have given all hurling fans over the past few years has been priceless and they are due an All Ireland. When I see how Kilkenny strangle the life out of every team on their way to yet another boring win, and then think of swashbuckling, thrill-a-minute Waterford not winning an All Ireland, it breaks my heart
THERE IS no coach in Waterford capable of taking over this team. The next coach must be a tyrant and needs to come from outside the county. He will need to confront one or two strong willed players. An outside coach can also smother inter club rivalries which lie dormant but could flare up with an indigenous coach.
AS A WATERFORD man and hurler, I think it’s a move which will benefit Waterford hurling. Justin developed very few young hurlers into decent senior intercounty players. He kept the same guys, more or less, on the subs bench for the last 4-5 years and ignored a lot of decent club players.
JUSTIN IS kinda like Ronseal. He does exactly what it says on the tin. He brought immediate success to Waterford but there will be a cost. I predict a serious lull ahead after this bunch
JUSTIN McCARTHY rescued hurling in Waterford from oblivion. A younger generation has seen three Munster Championships and a National League title. He is a brilliant hurling coach. Certainly he has made mistakes but the players must take responsibility for their own performances against Clare. Anything else is a cop out. Very soon they will bring the county to Division Three unless some of them grow up.
JUSTIN MADE All Stars out of players who were only average club hurlers. He turned Waterford into an exciting and entertaining team to watch. This is a big call by the players saying Justin is the problem. John Mullane didn't say he was the problem against Clare.
SO DAVY Fitzgerald is on the short list for the Waterford Manager’s job. Also it seems are Nicky English and Eddie O Connor not to mention the great D.J Carey. No disrespect to these guys but surely there is someone within Waterford it self well capable of taking on the job. Why not give a Waterford man a chance now before it is too late with this brilliant bunch of Hurlers?
AFR’s SHOUT:
Justin’s ambitions for Waterford were never limited by him, but by a small number of players in his panel who failed to perform each year. They’re so used to success in the Déise that his impressive haul of trophies and medals for the county must be judged an abject failure! So, he had to go. For the honour and glory of the county, you understand. Whoever takes over will need a hard neck.
AS THE ANTHEM was being played before the match in Cork a few of the Tipp players were having a good old chat. The camera was on them as it was played. Not picking on the Tipp players, nearly every county does it. A lot of players run off into position before it has finished as well.
THE ANTHEM should be in English. Face fact Irish is a dead language and even if 70% of the people knew the words they would not know what they mean. I wish it could be otherwise but this is the reality. Uplifting, inspirational English words to the same melody as the current anthem should be put in place.
Sorry, Tucker. I thought the whole point of what is celebrated in the anthem is so that we could sing it in Irish not in English?
I’M DISAPPOINTED by the disrespect shown towards the minutes silence on Sunday by a small section of my own county's fair-weather fans. Shameful!
Unfortunately, an increasing number of fans attending games with a few ‘bevvies’ on board think they are immortal and the day will never come when they might like someone to remember them. A simple announcement seems like the best way to get over this.
THE MUNSTER Council have the neck to charge ? 30 into a covered stand for a first round game and then they ask people to drive out of the way for a local derby. Is it any wonder there were only 17,000 people in the Gaelic Grounds the last day? I’m glad I'll be watching in Menorca.
AFR’S SHOUT:
Say hello for us to all the gang down all the Cala n Bosch. Those Menorcans know their hurling alright.
We were tempted to give the prize for to Roam More for imaginatively comparing Justin McCarthy to a tin of Ronseal. However, it goes to ‘Rockie’ for astutely summing up what went wrong with Cork on Sunday. CATCH UP with more great conversation and craic on ‘An Fear Rua – The GAA Unplugged!’ at www.anfearrua.com
Give your views and comments to An Fear Rua himself at GAA Angry Fans in ‘The Irish Examiner’ Just drop an email to gaafans@examiner.ie and get AFR’s reaction to what you have to say. For the ‘Comment of the Week’, we have a fabulous prize of exclusive his and hers GAA t-shirts, supplied by our old pals at Puckout.com, where you can design your own club or county leisure wear.
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