Micheál Quirke: Sledging damages football’s fabric

"One man practising sportsmanship is far better than 100 teaching it"— Knute Rokne, legendary Notre Dame coach.

Watching Donegal and Tyrone on Sunday brought me right back to when I was just 17. I played my first full season with Tralee’s Super League basketball team — the Tigers. I was a young kid who had never experienced playing against seasoned Americans before.

The very first game I played in the Sports Complex, I was matched up against a 6’10” Yank from inner city Washington. From the tip-off, this guy didn’t stop what they call ‘trash-talking’ across the pond. He incessantly badgered me about my appearance; my goofy haircut in particular seemed to amuse him— in fairness, it wasn’t the coolest of cows-licks you’ll ever see — he spoke about my family, my game.