Westmeath & "friendlys"

[Jinxy]

Have many other counties had problems of this nature playing challenge matches? Do people think they will get away with more because it isn't a league/championship fixture?

From hoganstand.com.

Westmeath anger at latest off-the-ball incident

02 May 2007

Promising corner back Francis Boyle has become the third Westmeath footballer in four years to have suffered a serious facial injury following a challenge match off-the-ball incident.

The young Killucan clubman, who came to prominence in the Lake County's run to last year's All-Ireland quarter-final, had teeth knocked out after he was allegedly struck off the ball during a 'friendly' match against Cork at Park/Ratheniska in Co. Laois last Sunday week. Despite the seriousness of the injury, he is expected to be fit for Westmeath's Leinster SFC opener against Longford on Sunday week, May 13.

It's understood that Cork manager Billy Morgan withdrew Boyle's alleged assailant following the intervention of the referee.

Unsurprisingly, there is much anger in Westmeath over the incident, especially as it comes after the high-profile cases of Kenny Larkin and Finian Newman, who suffered broken jaws in a challenge matches against Down and Cavan in 2003 and 2004 respectively.

Writing in his local newspaper column this week, former Westmeath and Ireland star Michael 'Spike' Fagan has called on the GAA to pursue the matter and ensure the culprit is brought to justice.

"In reality, it shouldn't make much difference whether it's a so-called challenge or a county final, the Cork player who struck should be identified and receive a suspension," Fagan said.

"How must Francis Boyle feel, especially since he ended up in hospital with broken teeth. And just because it was a challenge game, does the Cork player involved get away scot free?

"It must also be a nightmare situation for referees, who clearly have to apply one set of rules for challenge games and another for competitive matches."

[shark]

There was not even a neutral referee. Barry Kelly was in charge.  He basically told Billy Morgan to substitute the offender.  This is what is generally accepted in challenge matches as it is seen as beneficial to both sides if neither team goes down to 14.

[Kerry Mike]

What was Billy Morgan's favourite rant term last Summer, ah yes "being cynical".
Good man Billy, good to see there is no such thing creeping in with the Langers.

[realredhandfan]

and you criticise Mickey Harte for refusing to play friendlies.  Shame on you all.

[Mentalman]

To be fair not much attention was given to this at all, compared to the other incidents in past years. Ihave a relative on the panel I'm good friends with, and he never mentioned the incident, first I heard of it was here. Seems the article was inspired by Spike Fagan's article? Filling column inches.

[Drumanee 1]

always seems to be westmeath that kick up stink over men getting hit,simple cure,dont play westmeath infriendlies

[Lone Shark]

always seems to be westmeath that kick up stink over men getting hit,simple cure,dont play westmeath infriendlies

I'd be the first one to add an extra push behind a rolling maul of Westmeath bashing were it to be taking place pretty much anywhere or anytime, but surely to God the question is why are people getting hit in friendly/challenge matches?? We're not talking robust challenges here, it's been off the ball in all three cases. Perhaps Westmeath are the common denominator and they have a team tactic of rising players so this happens a lot more (I don't mean to accuse but a third time makes one wonder), but without any evidence to substantiate this I'd be loathe to blame anyone but the attacker in any of the cases.

[Cloc Mor]

Men get a slap off the ball because they deserve it.  If a defender kept pulling/dragging or punching me off the ball I would have let him have it, challenge game or no challenge game.  Wee James did not mean to do the damage he did and I'm sure if he thought he was going to break the lad's jaw, he wouldn't have hit him.

Forwards need protection and if they're not getting it, they gotta look after things themselves.  I would not allow myself to be intimidated by any player.  Defenders who 'live by the sword, often die by the sword.'

[Croí na hÉireann]

Men get a slap off the ball because they deserve it.

In every single case??? Yeah right!!!

Wee James did not mean to do the damage he did and I'm sure if he thought he was going to break the lad's jaw, he wouldn't have hit him.

If he didn't mean to do damage he shouldn't have swung, simple as. Don't give me this shite of not meaning to do damage.

Forwards need protection and if they're not getting it, they gotta look after things themselves.

Agreed, but there's ways and means. Best form of retaliation is to stick the ball over the ball/in the net.

[Romeo]

Men get a slap off the ball because they deserve it.

In every single case??? Yeah right!!!

Wee James did not mean to do the damage he did and I'm sure if he thought he was going to break the lad's jaw, he wouldn't have hit him.

If he didn't mean to do damage he shouldn't have swung, simple as. Don't give me this shite of not meaning to do damage.

Forwards need protection and if they're not getting it, they gotta look after things themselves.

Agreed, but there's ways and means. Best form of retaliation is to stick the ball over the ball/in the net.

In fairness lads if you're hanging out of a lad you should expect to get a slap, he's not just going to let you hang out of him, has to make some attempt to get the player off him. If the swing (to get him off) results in a slap, there shouldn't be any surprise!

[MaroonAndWhite]

The Westmeath method of defending does leave them susceptible to an occasional slap!!! Just ask Michael Meehan after the Championship game last summer.......if a lad ever had a reason to give a defender a dig it was then. John Keane nearly committed GBH on him!
That said, the Cork lad was a bit of a clown.....he hits a Westmeath player in a meaningless challenge game which had a Westmeath ref. Maybe its me but that seems to have all the ingredients for a lengthy suspension if the ref had done his job and its good luck to the Championship. But sure, I suppose some day soon a ref will do their job...........

[AN other]

Forwards need protection and if they're not getting it, they gotta look after things themselves.  I would not allow myself to be intimidated by any player.  Defenders who 'live by the sword, often die by the sword.'

What a load of bull...
Forwards have got to look after things themselves by running up behind a man and hitting him a dig from behind at full force, without meaning to break their jaw.... That's the action of a coward, not somebody looking after themselves...

Just because Michael Meehan barely got a sniff in Pearse Stadium last year doesn't really justify him hitting digs!