Thuggery in the GAA

[seafoid]

Good article by Brian O Connor

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/welcome-to-championship-and-a-new-summer-of-naked-blackguarding-1.2657484

"It's there to varying degrees in every match. But it's always there. That constant shaping and shouldering mixed in with pulling, picking, pawing, the accidental-on-purpose knee to the back or sly step on the Achilles, a provocative word in the ear or an elbow to the ribs, invariably accompanied by feigned incredulity at any offence taken, and all of it part of an incessant niggle that's as cheap as a Kilkenny county football final ticket.

The remarkable thing is that it doesn't register anymore. It's become par for the GAA course. It is the exception rather than the rule if a sub doesn't run on and automatically bullock into his marker, roaring in their ear, presumably about their mother's well-being, and generally shaping to let everyone know they're "there"."

Players do privately outline stories about abuse and physical assault which makes one wonder why they bother to play at all, never mind sacrificing the best years of their lives to voluntarily put up with thuggery at its lowest.

Claims of racism over the years grab headlines but physical and verbal abuse of all kinds are still routinely categorised under "one of those things", a ridiculous state of affairs made even more stupid by being part of an even greater bullshit culture which dresses this stuff up in cod-psychological, self-regarding garbage that the GAA specialises in.


Kilkenny are the masters

[johnneycool]

Good article by Brian O Connor

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/welcome-to-championship-and-a-new-summer-of-naked-blackguarding-1.2657484

"It's there to varying degrees in every match. But it's always there. That constant shaping and shouldering mixed in with pulling, picking, pawing, the accidental-on-purpose knee to the back or sly step on the Achilles, a provocative word in the ear or an elbow to the ribs, invariably accompanied by feigned incredulity at any offence taken, and all of it part of an incessant niggle that's as cheap as a Kilkenny county football final ticket.

The remarkable thing is that it doesn't register anymore. It's become par for the GAA course. It is the exception rather than the rule if a sub doesn't run on and automatically bullock into his marker, roaring in their ear, presumably about their mother's well-being, and generally shaping to let everyone know they're "there"."

Players do privately outline stories about abuse and physical assault which makes one wonder why they bother to play at all, never mind sacrificing the best years of their lives to voluntarily put up with thuggery at its lowest.

Claims of racism over the years grab headlines but physical and verbal abuse of all kinds are still routinely categorised under "one of those things", a ridiculous state of affairs made even more stupid by being part of an even greater bullshit culture which dresses this stuff up in cod-psychological, self-regarding garbage that the GAA specialises in.


Kilkenny are the masters

Is that your own poetic license there?

[NAG1]

Is he actually paid to write that or is that a readers letter page?

[Jinxy]

The only time I ever become aware of this O'Connor chaps existence is when he has his annual GAA rant.
I believe he's actually the racing correspondent for the Times.

[general_lee]

There already is a Cavan/Armagh thread

[seafoid]

He writes about other sports other than racing .
I think he's on the ball on this issue  . Refs have very little smacht over violence on the pitch

[r3]

Good article by Brian O Connor

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/welcome-to-championship-and-a-new-summer-of-naked-blackguarding-1.2657484

"It's there to varying degrees in every match. But it's always there. That constant shaping and shouldering mixed in with pulling, picking, pawing, the accidental-on-purpose knee to the back or sly step on the Achilles, a provocative word in the ear or an elbow to the ribs, invariably accompanied by feigned incredulity at any offence taken, and all of it part of an incessant niggle that's as cheap as a Kilkenny county football final ticket.

The remarkable thing is that it doesn't register anymore. It's become par for the GAA course. It is the exception rather than the rule if a sub doesn't run on and automatically bullock into his marker, roaring in their ear, presumably about their mother's well-being, and generally shaping to let everyone know they're "there"."

Players do privately outline stories about abuse and physical assault which makes one wonder why they bother to play at all, never mind sacrificing the best years of their lives to voluntarily put up with thuggery at its lowest.

Claims of racism over the years grab headlines but physical and verbal abuse of all kinds are still routinely categorised under "one of those things", a ridiculous state of affairs made even more stupid by being part of an even greater bullshit culture which dresses this stuff up in cod-psychological, self-regarding garbage that the GAA specialises in.


Kilkenny are the masters

Gaelic games is still blighted by this alright (especially compared to other field sports).serious bitchiness at club level.  As Pat Spillane and Colm O'Rourke would say; its 'Tuggery!'

[Kuwabatake Sanjuro]

I'd say he was thinking of the abuse Cathal McCarron was surely taking on Sunday. Poor enough journalist though, covers probably the most corrupt sport in the world and never has the balls or conviction to call it out properly. The occasional article where he is disappointed at the turf club ruling in favour of the big lads is about as far as he goes.

[ballinaman]

Off-duty Garda beaten unconscious at GAA match
http://jrnl.ie/2968089

[AZOffaly]

Off-duty Garda beaten unconscious at GAA match
http://jrnl.ie/2968089

Brutal. Life bans all round and jail hopefully.

[Dinny Breen]

What the f*ck is wrong with people?

[AZOffaly]

And they won the match! Imagine if they lost?

[Jinxy]

The worst violence is always at underage games.
During a challenge match at minor level one of our players was kicked full force in the head as he lay on the ground in the middle of a row.
I never saw anything within an asses roar of that at senior level as there are usually far more people trying to stop the fight than there are trying to keep it going.
Young lads still have the 'one in, all in' mentality.

[AZOffaly]

The worst violence is always at underage games.
During a challenge match at minor level one of our players was kicked full force in the head as he lay on the ground in the middle of a row.
I never saw anything within an asses roar of that at senior level as there are usually far more people trying to stop the fight than there are trying to keep it going.
Young lads still have the 'one in, all in' mentality.

One in all in shouldn't apply to supporters though!

[Jinxy]

At underage level you have a volatile mixture of players' parents and players' friends on the sideline.
If they think 'their Johnny' is after getting a slap, they're quite likely to come piling in, whereas at senior level it generally doesn't happen as lads are able to take care of themselves.
I remember after another minor game our full-forward's Mam went after the opposition full-back!
The poor lad didn't know what to do.