Divers (and face holders)

[smelmoth]

Brolly called out JO'D in the first Kerry v Cork match for going to ground holding his face. More pundits should do this. Shields was an embarrassment last night. They should be held out for ridicule by the pundits on the live show and on TSG. Them McHugh boys would crop up a time or two making their aul fella a bit uncomfortable. How many McHugh's are there? On a windy day in Kilcar the streets must we strewn with McHughs who felt a a slight touch.

The game doesn't need this shyte. Embarrass the bejaysus out of them and they will soon quit.

[Go home ref]

The entire Tyrone team for a start

[ck]

100% agree. Shields should have got a black card. The sooner refs punish this stuff the better. Well done to RTE commentary for highlighting it and basically calling Shields a cheat and a fraud which is all he was.

[Beffs]

It would be great if the GAA got involved in handing out retrospective bans, for stuff like this, after they have reviewed match footage. As much as we slate refs, they can't be expected to see everything. Linking action to stuff that the ref does or does not see or act upon, or put into his match report, means that the cute players get away with murder.

If a ban per incident is too severe, then give each player a quota. If you receive two post match sanctions for unsportsmanlike conduct, you get an automatic one match ban. It can cover all kinds of dodgy carry on, from play acting and diving and trying to get your man sent off, to off the ball acts of thuggery that the refs don't see.

[From the Bunker]

Aidan O'Shea, the McHugh Brothers and the king of them all James O'Donaghue. There are plenty of others. In fairness you can play honest and get taken for a ride by the top inter-county defenders. It's down to how much of a fool you are because if you don't protect yourself by exaggerating fouls you'll get hurt and more so your maker will cheat at an even higher level to keep you out of the game.

[heffo]

Aidan O'Shea, the McHugh Brothers and the king of them all James O'Donaghue. There are plenty of others. In fairness you can play honest and get taken for a ride by the top inter-county defenders. It's down to how much of a fool you are because if you don't protect yourself by exaggerating fouls you'll get hurt and more so your maker will cheat at an even higher level to keep you out of the game.

Don't forget Donal Vaughan - he's been on the ground holding his face rolling around more times than the rest combined

[TabClear]

The media could take a steer from the Aussie Rules commentators on this. Anybody dives or pulls out of a tackle in their matches gets absolutely hammered and embarrassed in the analysis.

Funnily enough it doesn't happen too often.

[lynchbhoy]

Good idea
Should have a roll of shame each week on Sunday game for fellas feigning injury where there was clearly no contact.
About time something was done to stop this embarrassing rubbish - and if croke park don't then the Sunday game should.
If the Sunday game don't then it should be done on this website!

[Bazil Douglas]

Aye, watching some of these games you would nearly think there was a sniper in the stand.

[rodney trotter]

Aidan O Mahony's was pretty bad back in 08 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHuU3EdJ1NQ

[trileacman]

The reason they do it is because it's rewarding. Get a man sent off for it a la Aidan O'Mahoney or Phillip Jordan and you can win a game for your side. It's hard for the refs to call an incident that went on for a split second behind their back. There should be a post match ban consisting of 2 games for any player that succeeds in getting a man sent off. That's sufficient time for them to lose their place on a starting team and would hopefully be sufficient deterrent.

Cavanagh's another one who would be a diver but oddly I don't think he's as big on the old face-holding.

[Hardy]

There is a penalty for diving and injury feigning, but it's not severe enough (yellow card) and its severity is irrelevant anyway because referees, true to form, are not implementing it. Deegan on Saturday decided that Shileds was feigning injury because he motioned to him to get up, gave no free and took no action against Geaney(?). Why then did he not follow the rule and card Shields?

I've NEVER see the rule applied. That's farcical and indicates that the powers that be don't recognise this carry-on as a problem. I assume, as usual, it will only become a matter of concern if/when the Sunday Game decides so. So over to you Colm, Joe, et al.

[DennistheMenace]

Add Dick Clerkin to that list and Lundy.

[nrico2006]

Can't remember now if it was the Donegal full back or full forward (think it was full back) who I saw in the background yesterday when a shot was hit over or wide.  He was pushed in the chest and dived to the ground and rolled about holding his face.

[Jinxy]

Add Dick Clerkin to that list and Lundy.

Big Dick doesn't dive.