O Leary gets the all clear

[Tankie]

What gives you the right to call Noel O'Leary a sc**bag? I'd reckon he's a grand fella.

If some of the Dubs did that to Geraghty you'd be cheering or in a very silent minority so save us the feigned outrage.

first of all only a sc**bag would just punch a man in the face when he isn't expecting it.

And secondly you don't see dublin players do this type of stuff!

So by that logic Ciaran Whelan is a sc**bag for elbowing David Mitchell in the face when he wasn't expecting it? Agree or disagree???

O'Leary has been in trouble on the pitch before, of that there is no doubt, and technically should be missing the final. However anyone who wants to call his character into question should take the time to read the article on him from the Tribure last Sunday before they go mouthing off!!!

have you got a clip of this elbow as i would need to see if it was intentional or a accident. O'Leary could have broken a fellow players jaw in true sc**bag fashion when the player wasnt expecting it.

we can look forward to some more of your educated comments then...

and what do you mean by that???

[Hardy]

Flattened  him?  ffs.  Geraghty is a diving cheat - end of story!

Are you being intentionally ironic, as a Tyrone man? Most observers would agree that Geraghty is one of the least likely of players to dive. And he's been tested in this department more than most. By Tyrone standards he'd be the Parnell monument.

Not agreeing with what O'Leary did and the rules state if you punch its a red card but the actual blow was hardly "Mike Tyson" stuff and Geraghty as usual made a meal of it.

I rarely use this word on this site but this statement is Bullshit!

Not the only bullshit in this thread, agorm. In a year when our biggest failing was to be bullied physically more than any Meath fan could stomach, it's beyond laughable that some people still can't believe the evidence of their own eyes and cling to the old stereotypes. Others still feel free to call fellow members of the GAA "scumbags" and Lynchbhoy has lost the plot altogether with his "kn**ker" allegations.

I repeat, most of us were disappointed that we were too meek and easily pushed around this year, rather than the other way round. A bit less politeness and a bit more of the "kn**ker" might have stood us in better stead on Sunday.

[Sandy Hill]

While I'm glad that O'Leary will be available for the final, he should have been suspended - sin é! If the GAA don't get their house in order Fergal Logan is going to lose out big-time.

[Hound]

Not the only bullshit in this thread, agorm. In a year when our biggest failing was to be bullied physically more than any Meath fan could stomach, it's beyond laughable that some people still can't believe the evidence of their own eyes and cling to the old stereotypes. Others still feel free to call fellow members of the GAA "scumbags" and Lynchbhoy has lost the plot altogether with his "kn**ker" allegations.

I repeat, most of us were disappointed that we were too meek and easily pushed around this year, rather than the other way round. A bit less politeness and a bit more of the "kn**ker" might have stood us in better stead on Sunday.

Yeah, lynchbhoy got the O'Leary incident right, but comparing this year's Meath team to Armagh, or even to Monaghan, in terms of approach to the game is miles off. In saying that I never saw yis being meek! (apart from maybe the end of the Cork game when it was over anyway).

[David McKeown]

Not surprised to see that no further action is necessary.  As Hardy and myself were discussing on another thread, I dont think these new rules allowing the CCCC to ask the ref to change his mind would stand up to scrutiny on appeal. The GAA doesn't need another high profile appeal either, would have been interesting though to see what would have happened had O'Leary been suspended

[orangeman]

Crowe simply couldn't have changed his mind - he would have been made to look silly and his image would have suffered ( or is his money on Cork ? ).

[galla]

The rules state striking or attempting to strike with the arm, elbow, hand or knee is a minimum 4 week suspension to include the next game in said competition. So I want to know is Brian Crowe now rewriting the rules of football or (more likely) the disciplinary commitee (lol) dont want to take a stand and reveal that the referee made a mistake. If he saw the incident O'Leary should have been sent off, if he didnt he should not have been booked. Brian Crowe was sent a copy of the incident and after reviewing it decided he had acted correctly. Does this mean he doesnt know the rules of the game???

[The Forfeit Point]

Crowe simply couldn't have changed his mind - he would have been made to look silly and his image would have suffered ( or is his money on Cork ? ).

how would he have been made look silly?? i think it wouldve made him look better as it wouldve shown that he is not afraid to admit to his mistakes (something which drives me mad about refs), and take the appropriate action to correct his error. a damn fine ref he is (in the heat of the moment he may have thought geraghty made a meal out of a push) but he has certainly gone down in my books

[lynchbhoy]

Not the only bullshit in this thread, agorm. In a year when our biggest failing was to be bullied physically more than any Meath fan could stomach, it's beyond laughable that some people still can't believe the evidence of their own eyes and cling to the old stereotypes. Others still feel free to call fellow members of the GAA "scumbags" and Lynchbhoy has lost the plot altogether with his "kn**ker" allegations.

I repeat, most of us were disappointed that we were too meek and easily pushed around this year, rather than the other way round. A bit less politeness and a bit more of the "kn**ker" might have stood us in better stead on Sunday.

OK kn**ker football is my attempt at a 'pat spillane'
but apart from the labelling of it - the problem is there.

Some of the things that individually are performed are not too bad, but when its an all out 70 minute littany of transgressions if not all contravening the rules of the game, certainly crossing the line of sportsmanship.
With the possibility of making myself a bit of a hypocrite here having not been the cleanest myself when playing years ago:
1. Standing or blocking a player from taking a free, or quick free
2. third man tackles
3. Hitting or running into a player after they have scored or after kicking the ball when they are most vulnerable and exposed
4. Kicking the hands off a lad who is attempting to pick up the ball
5. kicking the ball away or knocking the ball out of a players hands as he is trying to take a quick free
6. roughing up or riling opponents best sharpshooters to try to get their mind off the game and onto fighting
7. Diving, getting opponents booked/sent off, winning frees by cheating basically.

There are more, but these are the first things that spring to mind
All annoying aspects that are performed en masse and have an effect of provoking opponents sense of injustice and leading to retaliation and therefore their minds off playing football - as when you are fighting, you are not playing football. Referees will not continually blow for frees against all of these items and the other little niggly things that such teams do.

I did not say Armagh were a team guilty of these (and more) continual actions . Tyrone at times (though every time they play Derry , and Derry fall for it and Tyrone end up beating them off the park and laughing at them for retaliating) and this year Monaghan and Meath (though Meath were known for this all the time).
I may have lost the plot Hardy , and it isnt the first time -  but this kind of thing exists in football and in a way , people say you do what it takes to win a match, but when it is through continual niggly line crossing tactics, I think it is wrong. Kerry were the victims of this style and had a lucky break to help them beat Monaghan. For all the niceness that Monaghan and Meath have provided in this years championship, I would have preferred to see them play the game without the more sinister aspect to their game. OK they might not be as effective without it, but I think they are both talented enough to play ball on merit and skill.
Meath's tactics came unstuck when they had a bit of an off day, added to the fact that cork were a bigger more physical side that couldnt be pushed around and who remarkably channeled their aggression into playing football. Their discipline was impressive.
I think there is a bit of a problem in the game and players/teams need to be pulled up on such things. Otherwise where will it end. Its no example to be giving kids.

[Hardy]

I'm wondering is this a bit of a backlash by the refs against the compromising of their hitherto unassailable position of final arbiter, perhaps emboldened by the DRA's view of the new set-up as outlined by David McKeown elsewhere. It's possible they may have decided as a group (they have been meeting recently) not to change their decisions when asked to review them by the CCCC.

[Billys Boots]

It's possible they may have decided as a group (they have been meeting recently) not to change their decisions when asked to review them by the CCCC.

In the context of trying to deal with everyday life in Ireland Inc., and seeing what other showers of blackguards get away with, you might well be right, Hardy!

[Stay goalside of your man]

I can't believe O Leary has not got banned for this. The ref who watched the video back again should never ref a match again.
According to the GAA it's now ok to punch a guy in the face and get away with it.

I just hope the Australians do not see this incident, the GAA called of the international rules because it was too violent and then they let this go.

What a complete and utter joke altogether, I really don't know what the GAA are playing at.

Talk about double standards.

[Tankie]

I can't believe O Leary has not got banned for this. The ref who watched the video back again should never ref a match again.
According to the GAA it's now ok to punch a guy in the face and get away with it.

I just hope the Australians do not see this incident, the GAA called of the international rules because it was too violent and then they let this go.

What a complete and utter joke altogether, I really don't know what the GAA are playing at.

Talk about double standards.

but it is the double standard association, i think the press are right to call them the make it up as you go along association!

[Hardy]

Lynchbhoy –  you certainly have a unique perspective on things. I think it's bizarre that you pick out three teams to finger for your list of crimes and misdemeanours in a year when
- Tyrone seemed to have been converted to a commitment to stay upright;
- Monaghan's play was more remarkable for good, old-fashioned robust physicality (toughness, hard tackling, go through rather than around) than what you call niggling;
- Meath's football was noticeable for it's lack of the traditional "edge" and for being far too nice – to the remarkable extent of being pushed around by CORK!
- The most notable examples of niggly play, goading etc. have come from a different quarter altogether.

[lynchbhoy]

Lynchbhoy –  you certainly have a unique perspective on things. I think it's bizarre that you pick out three teams to finger for your list of crimes and misdemeanours in a year when
- Tyrone seemed to have been converted to a commitment to stay upright;
- Monaghan's play was more remarkable for good, old-fashioned robust physicality (toughness, hard tackling, go through rather than around) than what you call niggling;
- Meath's football was noticeable for it's lack of the traditional "edge" and for being far too nice – to the remarkable extent of being pushed around by CORK!
- The most notable examples of niggly play, goading etc. have come from a different quarter altogether.

its just how I see it Hardy. Doesnt mean I am right obv.
If its the Dubs you are getting at- I think Dublin are not a niggly team, their only cringeworthy things are the soccer-like crowd acknowledgements (which is just alien to old style traditional Gaa types like myself and more it seems) and the much debated pointing to the scoreboard and triumphalistic behaviour.
Tyrone might not have been as bad this year, but the monaghan v anyone and meath v galway and meath v tyrone games are most notable for what I mean. Its the off the ball play that to me criminalises these teams , not when on the ball or during play.

On the field of play, I cant say too much bad about them.