Ulster sides may pay the penalty
The Central Competitions Control Committee met yesterday to review a number of incidents which were caught by RTÉ cameras at Celtic Park including clashes between Brian Mullan and Monaghan’s Conor McManus along with a tussle involving Thomas Freeman and Derry’s Kevin McGuckin. Derry’s Fergal Doherty was the only player to receive a red card in the encounter.
Monaghan chairman John Connolly described media reaction to the game as ‘over the top’ while Ulster Council Chairman Tom Daly last night launched a strong defence of the province’s under-fire championship.
While accepting that aspects of Sunday’s game were unsavoury, Mr Daly said: “The Ulster championship and Ulster football should be judged and commented on in a more complete context that one championship game. For example, our 2008 championship was hugely successful producing competitive, entertaining and well attended matches including the Tyrone versus Down replay which many Ulster people would regard as one of the games of the championship along with the match between Galway and Kerry.”
However the Provincial chairman admitted the public’s ire at Sunday’s spectacle was understandable
He said: “It is completely understandable that aspects of Sunday’s game have drawn criticism. But there were also some very positive aspects, particularly several of the long range points from open play. Both teams, because of recent competitive history, were there to grind out a result and generally speaking that does not make for entertaining fare. From time to time we see games like that throughout the GAA.”
Like GAA President Christy Cooney, Mr Daly did not wish to make any statement before the Central Competitions Control Committee issue their findings on the matter.
“From a disciplinary point of view the CCCC nationally can review and deal with any unacceptable behaviour not already dealt with by the referee. From an Ulster point of view we would not wish to get involved in any comment on this aspect of things lest it impinges on the disciplinary process which must always be allowed to function in a fair and independent way.”
Meanwhile Mr Daly said he was ‘unaware’ of claims a Monaghan player was struck by a fan during the game.
The incident was alleged to have taken place on the Gasworks side of the ground during the second half.
Derry Secretary Liam Peoples last night admitted that some of the incidents on Sunday were ‘not pretty’.
“I have not been contacted by anyone yet from the CCCC (Central Competitions Control Committee).
“But I will not be surprised if I am. I watched it afterwards on The Sunday Game and it was not pretty.”
Peoples did not quibble with any of the assertions made by the RTÉ panel on Sunday night.
“A lot of this is coming from The Sunday Game. There is a lot more scrutiny of games and highlighting of a lot more incidents that are happening in matches which I think is a good thing.”
Peoples also expressed dismay that the experimental rules introduced during the league weren’t continued for the championship.
“At the end of the day the GAA had the chance for the new rules to be implemented. Some counties did not chose that route, maybe we are wondering now if that was the correct course of action. We were in favour of new rules being applied. I suppose the powers that be will look at rules again and come up with different guidelines.”
Monaghan Chairman John Connolly described the reaction to the game as ‘over the top’ and also slammed RTÉ’s comments on the match in their live and night-time broadcasts.
“We haven’t heard anything yet from the CCCC but I am sure there will be some questions arising from the game.
“There was a lot of unfair criticism. It takes two to tango. But we are disappointed by the criticisms which came our way. RTÉ did not give us great press but that is not surprising given that two of their analysts (Joe Brolly and Anthony Tohill) come from Derry.”
And what of the criticism of the Ulster Championship? “It is absolutely over the top. There are always tough hard manly games up in Ulster.”
Meanwhile All-Ireland champions Tyrone have received a double boost with the news that Stephen O’Neill and Brian Dooher are both poised to start against Armagh in Sunday’s Ulster SFC clash at Clones. The Clann na nGael pair came through a weekend training camp, and have proved their fitness to manager Mickey Harte.
O’Neill had suffered a setback in his recovery from a knee injury picked up in the opening NFL game against Dublin in February, while Dooher has undergone groin surgery and had not played for Tyrone since the All-Ireland final.
“Stephen came through everything at our weekend training camp, and he’s fine. And he had a full week last week, when we had an in-house game. He’s in contention for a starting place,” said Tyrone assistant manager Tony Donnelly.
“Brian came through everything last week and at the weekend as well. We’re hoping that he doesn’t have any reaction and he should be challenging for a place as well.”
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