'I was on the sideline when he called my name and head-butted me in the face'
By Colm O'Connor
ANOTHER GAA disciplinary controversy has erupted in Kerry with local Gardaí asked to investigate an alleged assault which occurred during a junior game on Tuesday night.
Clounmacon manager Enda Murphy claims he was head-butted in the face by a St Senan's player towards the end of a North Kerry League Division 3 semi-final in Finuge. Murphy, 31, alleges he was knocked to the ground by the player who came from the dug out and was unconscious for a few minutes. He now wants GAA chiefs to put down a marker to prevent similar incidents happening in future. Mr Murphy was taken for medical assessment to South Doc in Listowel and then to Kerry General Hospital for an x-ray at 1am.
His injuries included severe swelling on the side of his face, loose teeth and a suspected fractured jaw.
Following the alleged incident Clounmacon mentors took their team off the field. There were eight minutes remaining and St Senan's were leading by four points.
Mr Murphy told the Irish Examiner: "We were awarded a free close to the St Senan's goal. I was on the sideline when a player jumped from the dug out, called my name, and as I turned around, he head-butted me in the face. I was shocked and unaware of what was happening until I was on the ground with team officials around me.
"It was the most frightening experience of my life. While the physical pain of the incident is just about bearable, the mental pain, humiliation and embarrassment resulting from the incident is terrible. To be attacked in this manner is not in keeping with the spirit of sport and I left the field in tears.
"This was an unprovoked attack and someone has to take action to stamp this sort of thuggery out of the game."
Murphy feels it is vital that more and more people speak out against such incidents.
"The main reason I have come forward with this is that no other manager, or anyone involved in helping out or playing GAA, will have to suffer the same fate as this.
"The punishment has to start somewhere. If this happened outside a disco in Listowel it would be treated as a criminal offence. That's the attitude that must come from the GAA. It is getting out of hand all over the country. There are very few places that the punishment fits the crime.
Mr Murphy also revealed that no officials from either the North Kerry Board or the St Senan's club had contacted him since the incident which has forced him out of work.
"I have received 100% support from everyone in the club which I am thankful for. I am definitely taking time out of football. I have stepped down from the Feale Rangers U21 side. I was due to be playing with Clounmacon B this week but I will be staying away from football for a while. I am going on ten years in management and never had as much as a shoulder on the sideline.
"It is tough enough managing a team without something like this happening. The GAA at the highest level need to get more serious about incidents like this."
North Kerry GAA Chairman Liam Dennehy confirmed an incident took place during the game "While I was not at the game, I understand that an incident did take place. I am awaiting the referee's report on the matter and once I receive that, we will deal with the matter."
Gardaí say once they receive a complaint, an investigation will be launched.
It is the second high profile case of ill discipline this week. Westmeath football panelist Paddy Martin could be facing a one-year ban following an alleged altercation with a referee in a club game last weekend. Martin, who made an appearance as a substitute in the Lake County's All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Dublin last year and featured in this year's National League, was involved in an incident which felled Moate referee Tom Duffy during Ballymore's IFC clash with Ballynacargy on Sunday.
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Time to start handing out life bans I feel, there have been too many incidents over the past five years for this sort of behaviour to be described as isolated incidents.
Life ban for the player in this case, life ban for the player in Westmeath. And life ban meaning no entry to any GAA events, stadia etc for life.
If incident occurred as described in the report,then a life ban is called for. its long past time we start to make thugs accountable for their actions,for which they no longer believe carry any consequences. Lets start disabusing them of that notion not only within the G.A.A. but in society generally. Our association can show the way. Those who refuse to discipline themselves must have discipline imposed on them.
Bring back "Puke Football"
All this kick, catch and headbutting is spoiling the beautiful game!!!!!!!
:-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-* :-*
Well done Enda Murphy for taking a stand against thuggery - no doubt the guilty person will get what he deserves
- and then some (with luck)
Life Ban and a nice day out in the Courts
It'll be interesting to see how the GAA deal with this!
I applaud the man, he will get a hard time for his stand from lots of savages in kerry.The lad that decked the ref in westmeath should get a 3 year ban as should the lad in kerry.I once played with a fella in a junior club in dublin that broke a refs jaw with a punch from behind and was laughing in the dressing room after, i felt like telling him kcuf off but would have received the same from him outside a few minutes later,he was banned but still played under other members names.He was a known yoke and spent time in jail for assault in the centre of dublin on a bus driver that cut himoff in his taxi.
GAA is losing credibility in the discipline stakes and needs to appoint a panel of no nonsense men to dish out bans with no recourse for offenders.
is it possible to be banned for life in the GAA? i was always under the impression that the total maximum ban was 2 years.
Although we can all become a bit hysterical at times like this and start demanding action far inexcess of what is required or realistic,something has to be done. I'm not sure lifetime bans are the way to go as you couldn't enforce this, particularily in relation to spectating. I feel 2-5 year bans should be in place for serious physical interference of referees. While serious unprovoked physical assaults of match officials/mentors/spectators/players should carry with the playing ban a threat of legal action taken and funded by the GAA on behalf of the injured party.
Quoteis it possible to be banned for life in the GAA
Hey there's an intercounty referee (yes referee) who was banned two years ago for assaulting a referee in the shower (I'm not making this up) after being sent off in a Junior football game - he's back refereeing at the highest level. And we ask what's wrong.
Did Peter the great not beat a guy in the shower with the leg of a chair?
Peter the Great - beating some one up with the leg of a chair in a shower ? Never - are you sure that wasn't Barrymore ?
Agree with all the above statements.
Remember a guy up here getting a very hefty ban for headbutting a ref in a club game. Ironically the same individual is now a referee himself.( Not a very good one IMO, and often can lose control of games, but thats by the wayside)
In regards to PTG, thats an urban myth, that has been blown out of proportion.
could well be an urban myth, i've heard it a few times and its gotten worse every time with bits added to it!
kn**ker, should be banned for life.
QuoteAnd life ban meaning no entry to any GAA events, stadia etc for life.
That could be difficult to enforce.
Its not an urban myth
there definitely was a row in the showers after an errigal/dungannon game in oneill park but don't know if any furniture was involved!! PTG ended up with a broken jaw though
it just get worse and worse. Whats wrong with people. I've gotten a few thumps on the field of play but this is ridiculous. Life long bans and perhaps banning clubs from competitions might get people to co-operate. The penalties have to be harsh. The problem is when a penalty is imposed there is an outcry. People need to be told these are the rules and thats that. People trying to get their suspensions lifted and trying to exploit loopholes are also part of the problem. Those who encourage and assist people to get their suspensions over turned are equally to blame. Fine there needs to be a process of appeal but should only be for genuine cases and not opportunists.
lately the incidents have crossed the line into crinimal assault. Its time to get tough on these f****rs before they ruin our games completely
heard once the ptg broke his brother in laws jaw in a championship match did this ever occur or is it just bullshit
Quote from: the Deel Rover on June 15, 2007, 11:36:04 AM
heard once the ptg broke his brother in laws jaw in a championship match did this ever occur or is it just bullshit
From the Irish Times Archives, published on 11/02/1997, I think this is what you're referring to:
A LEADING Tyrone official has defended the decision to overrule a referee's report and exonerate county star Peter Canavan in the wake of disturbances at December's league final.
Frank Rodgers, secretary of the Tyrone Games Administration Committee (GAC), was responding to reports in the weekend's Sunday Independent and Sunday Tribune which drew attention to the referee's report which cited Canavan for physical interference with, and threatening language to, the referee.
Rodgers said the county's games administration committee (GAC) had reached its conclusion based on a preponderance of evidence that conflicted with the match official's report.
Canavan, who wasn't playing in the match between his club Errigal Ciarain and Carrickmore, was one of several names cited in the report of referee Michael Hughes, but he escaped the suspensions handed down to 11 others.
The GAC considered the referee's report, together with extensive witness and video evidence, before publishing its conclusions at the end of last month.
The incident arose when a fracas broke out at the end of the match on December 22nd last. The referee decided to abandon proceedings, obviously against the wishes of the Errigal Ciarain contingent whose club were leading by three points in injury time. Canavan was one of those who surrounded the referee to protest.
Queue the Bradley brigade....
QuoteA LEADING Tyrone official has defended the decision to overrule a referee's report
Oh, it's not a new development in Tyrone then? ::)
Assault victim: Safety 'secondary' in GAA
By Colm O'Connor
THE GAA's much-hyped 'get tough' disciplinary edict suffered another huge blow last night after the player who allegedly head-butted an opposition selector in a Kerry junior football game was banned for a mere EIGHT WEEKS.
The Clounmacon manager struck in a club game earlier this month is considering his future in the Association after the North Kerry Board's decision to let his assailant off so lightly.Enda Murphy claimed he was hit by a St. Senan's player near the end of a North Kerry league semi-final in Finuge and sustained a suspected broken jaw, loosened teeth and swelling. St Senan's were leading at the time and the match was abandoned.
"He has gotten off scott free for what he has done. I am sick, sick as a parrot. This is an absolute disgrace. I am in a state of shock," he told the Irish Examiner last night."The referee's report didn't tell the real story. The GAA rulebook needs to be rewritten."Adding insult to Murphy's injury, his club were fined €100 and severely warned as to their future conduct after their officials took the team off the field before the final whistle had blown. Murphy explained the reason behind that decision.
"After I was hit, our secretary saw young kids on the sideline near the incident and in the interest of safety, as tempers were running high she decided to get the players to the dressing room. Now it seems that we have been punished for that."The big message that has come out of this is that safety comes second."He added: "Things like this need to be investigated differently. I am just so disappointed with the injustice on Clounmacon and myself."Taxi driver Murphy was forced off work for over a week following the incident."I started back working at the end of last week," continued Murphy. "One couple told me that they would not be leaving their kids go to GAA matches unless this kind of thing was punished. People have very strong feelings about it around here. We are going to appeal the decision.
"The message it sends out is that there is no serious punishment for serious indiscipline in the GAA. I would seriously think about putting my own son into an other sport. Look at the discipline in rugby and soccer. Things like this wouldn't be allowed to happen there."He revealed he is also considering his own future in gaelic football management."As the club has been so good, I feel it would be unfair to walk out with important games to come this season. Once the season is over, unless our appeal is successful then I will walk away from it all. I have no contact, no apology, nothing from the other club."Though we had plenty of witnesses, the bottom line is that if the referee doesn't see, it doesn't matter.Murphy also revealed that he is considering legal action.
"Someone has to be held accountable," he said.The North Kerry Board insists it followed all relevant protocol before reaching their decision.Board PRO Mick Flavin said: "In relation to the inquiry regarding the Division Two North Kerry League semi-final between St Senan's B versus Clounmacon A, the CCC findings are as follows:
A. A St Senan's player was suspended for a Category Three offence which carries a suspension of eight weeks from date of meeting.
B. That the Clounmacon club forfeits the game and the game awarded to St Senan's.
C. That both clubs were fined and warned as to their future conduct.
Board sources insist they were following procedures and protocols laid down in the official rule book. They stressed that their hands are tied by that document.
Said a source: "A Category Three offence is attempting to strike with hurley, kicking, attempting to kick, stamping, striking or attempting to strike with the head, reckless inflicting of injury by other means or any type of assault on an opposing team official.
The penalties are twofold: Firstly a minimum eight weeks suspension in the same code at the same level inclusive of the next game in the same competition of that competition year even if that game falls outside of the suspension time period.
"Secondly a minimum on a repeat infraction is a 16 weeks suspension in the same code and at the same level as that as which the infraction was committed inclusive of the next game in the same competition of that competition year even if that game falls outside of the suspension time period. We were just applying the rules as they are written down."
All such incidents should from now on have a combination of disciplinary and civil/criminal penalties. The GAA should start applying maximum, NOT minimum penalties and every effort should be made to co-operate with the guards. The media are trawling match reports from all over the country with a fine tooth comb. This type of behaviour cannot be allowed to continue. We've had one of the best starts to the hurling and football championships in recent years yet the headlines are being dominated by some ape in a junior B match in the middle of nowhere blowing a gasket and attacking someone. Enough is enough.
QuoteI applaud the man, he will get a hard time for his stand from lots of savages in kerry.
You can applaud him without insulting the rest of us....or are you, as you say yourself, a "bitching lesbo"
I think 8 weeks is plenty for this, I can't see why he's complaining or what he wanted.
8 weeks is a joke , 12 months
I thought it used to be 3 months for this sort of thing. Or maybe even 12 weeks.
Was at the Errigal / Carrickmore game in question. It's one in a long litany of controversies that Michael Hughes gets involved in. He' a nice fella and knows the rules inside out, however he brings a lot on himself. He quickly gets riled and becomes like the school teacher trying to stamp his authority on an unruley class and actualy gets involved with players . He does not have the temperament for a big game.
8 weeks for head butting. i don't see the problem.
Are people claiming it should be more for hitting a "team selector"?
Quote from: Over the Bar on June 30, 2007, 10:08:29 AM
Was at the Errigal / Carrickmore game in question. It's one in a long litany of controversies that Michael Hughes gets involved in. He' a nice fella and knows the rules inside out, however he brings a lot on himself. He quickly gets riled and becomes like the school teacher trying to stamp his authority on an unruley class and actualy gets involved with players . He does not have the temperament for a big game.
Why did he cite canavan for verbally and physically abusing him? did he completely make it up?
Quote
8 weeks for head butting. i don't see the problem.
Are people claiming it should be more for hitting a "team selector"?
It's probably because he ran crying to the papers, it's taken out the high and mighty crowd.
8 weeks is plenty, in fact 4 weeks would have been enough considering that if the same happened tomorrow in a club game and the media weren't alerted 4 weeks would be all that would be given.
Quote
Why did he cite canavan for verbally and physically abusing him? did he completely make it up?
He abaondoned the game, when in reality he should have just blown it up and awarded it to Errigal as is was injury time anyway. The Errigal players, Canavan included, surrounded him and there was a fair bit of jostling. Wasn't close enough to hear what was actually said.
Is there a difference between hitting or head butting someone who is not seriously hurt other than brusing and sore head compared to the someone who receives a serious facial wound requiring stitches or in this a case broken jaw. I think there clearly is and a criminal case would also reflect this, the rules do not reflect and I feel that they should. Our rules as we know are seriously flawed, and the fact that ther board fined the assualted managers club is further evidence of how incompetent some administers are within the GAA. This is a very embarressing episode for us all and we all have been let down by the rules and the board who levied the suspensions >:(
Over the bar - I couldn't agree with you more - Mickey "God" Hughes just can't handle the big games - we are mere mortals who by virtue of our much lower status are treated like idiots . Hughes was bringing the game into disrepute then and still is along with a few other of his egotistical cronies - he is trying to dicatate what goes on in Tyrone football and when he needs support or isn't getting his way runs off to his mate Francis Mooney and gets his views put into the press - Give it up Mickey !
By the way 48 weeks seems to be the norm now but where you come from is usually a better indicator !
While the 8 weeks suspension seems short it seems its the minimum length for an attack of this type. At least the North Kerry board have acted quickly and suspended the player and not tried to brush this under the carpet.
However two things I disagree with is the €100 fine on the managers club for the players being taken off the field, this was done for their safety as clearly there could have been an all out fight with tempers rising. If I was from Clonmacon I would tell the North kerry Board to feck off with their fine. That just adds insult to the whole thing ,and on top of that they then award the game to the team from the scum bag who caused all the trouble. The fact that St Senans did not contact the manager themselves also will leave a lingering sour taste for the neighbouring teams involved.
Will be interesting to see if the gardai get involved in this.