The legacy of Francie Bellew

[stew]

If players can't clatter into each other full blooded, there's no point to our game. It's a man's game, full contact (or used to be) and the odd tooth will be lost. That picture is one of the best examples I've ever seen of the camera lying. It's about a millisecond after Mickey collects the ball. For the previous two seconds, the ball was between the two of them. Watch it in full speed and no neutral football man would say that Francie should, or could, have pulled out.

I'm surprised at the Down lads. The Downs and other aristocratic counties of the football world don't moan about stuff like this.

Wtf? Aristocratic counties?? What a load of tosh. Who are these counties you speak of and considered aristocratic by exactly who, themselves?

Kerry, Meath, Galway and Down.
Keepers of the flame.

Ah ffs!

[Jinxy]

Sorry.
It's an exclusive club.

[Westside]

A hard man when it suited him but could bite the dust fairly fast if needs be. Got the rub of the side of Pearce McKenna's upper arm in 2004 and hugged the turf until the red was shown.

[ranch]

A hard man when it suited him but could bite the dust fairly fast if needs be. Got the rub of the side of Pearce McKenna's upper arm in 2004 and hugged the turf until the red was shown.

He was also sent off wrongly (later rescinded) v Donegal in a replay in 2005 and walked straight off without even a word of protest. If he's going to be accused of gamesmanship then it's only fair his sporting behaviour also gets pointed out.

[Westside]

Not complaining after getting a red is not sporting behaviour. To be commended yes, but wouldn't come under the heading of sporting.