McHugh predicts financial fallout from Ulster battle

MARTIN McHUGH has predicted that Derry, Monaghan and the Ulster Council may suffer financially, either through fines or falling attendances, as a result of the disturbing scenes at Celtic Park on Sunday.

The 1992 All-Ireland winner and football analyst was part of the BBC team broadcasting the game live two days ago and was clearly disgusted at some of the incidents which occurred.

“Both teams are looking at big fines and suspensions. Being at the match, watching what was going on, you couldn’t believe your eyes.

“We thought at an early stage that it was a bit of sorting out but it continued on until the very end of the game.

“What is going to happen is that people are just not going to pay money in to watch these games.

“Definitely, parents are not going to take children to watch what we saw there.”

The game is being viewed by some as vindication of the experimental rules, which failed to be approved at Congress. But McHugh isn’t so sure.

“The big question you would ask is what has happened to our game. It was so disappointing, cynical, nasty.

“It was everything that was bad about Gaelic football. People are now calling for the new rules to come back in.

“My opinion is those rules weren’t in for the All-Ireland final last year and that was one of the greatest games we ever had in Gaelic football. Video evidence will have to be looked at.

“Maybe the situation is that these two teams know each other too well and it is time to do away with the provincial championships but, definitely, it will be interesting to see what happens this week.

“From Derry’s point of view, they are going to be happy enough. They felt that they were in a battle and they had to win it. They won it but we have to take a look at the bigger picture from a GAA point of view.

“We need a big game from Tyrone and Armagh next week in the Ulster Championship because we are looking at them as two of the better teams. We don’t want to see what we watched at Celtic Park.”