2008 Ulster Club Championships

[saffron sam2]

I thought the game was superb entertainment, between two highly skilled and extremely committed teams. Howandever skill and commitment are not enough to win competitions such as this. Only myself and Jock Stein feel that it is possible to win anything of note by playing football, pure, beautiful, inventive football; one of us is dead and the other exists only in hyperspace. Therefore, to be successful, it is essential that you are prepared to indulge in the dark arts. In Ballinderry and Crossmaglen, along with skill and commitment, you have two teams prepared to do whatever is necessary to win this title. Teams who are prepared to break, infringe upon, violate, contravene, breach, disregard, bend, twist and manipulate every single rule in the rule book to achieve success. And who can blame them. Like I said winning with skill and class alone is a thing of the past. No-one involved in Sunday's match has any right to the moral high ground.

Given that the above is true, it is imperative then that a suitable referee is appointed. It is impossible under any circumstances to describe the porty, moustachioed Martin Sludden as a suitable referee. Whilst admitting it was an extremely difficult game to referee, the referee in question made a total hames, not just with the big decisions, but many of the run of the mill decisions also. He seemed to be refereeing the score, rather than the match. I, for one, won't miss him from the replay.  Unless Martin Higgins (Fermanagh) is appointed.

Having said that, I can see why he made the mistake with John McEntee (and it was a mistake - there is no way that suspension should stand). The high and dangerous pointy elbow has been an integral part of Crossmaglen's game since the first of their 13 in a row and let's be honest here, John McEntee has as much form for this as anyone else. It is conceiveable and justifiable that the referee was specifically looking out for this disgraceful and potentially lethal tactic and took action when he saw a raised elbow.

[Hardy]

But what has his moustache got to do with it? That's what I want to know.

[saffron sam2]

He gets mistaken for Paddy Russell.

[Hardy]

I see what you mean. You could mistake him for Paddy Russell in other ways too.

[FermGael]

 Unless Martin Higgins (Fermanagh) is appointed.

God forbid

[Aghdavoyle]

I see what you mean. You could mistake him for Paddy Russell in other ways too.

Is Sludden that much of a gobshite?

[tonesfirstandlast]

Watched it again there a few times. Shocking play acting in fairness if anything he connected with Conway's elbow.

Big problem for McEntee though is committee's are loathe to go against referee's reports and while McEntee did not connect with Conway's face he did lead with his elbow to tackle the ball which is dangerous play... there could be more ructions with this one I think!

Lead with his elbow to tackle the ball----how many times have you seen this skill performed, ther e must be a simpler way.

Was John McEntee not sent off against Loup the year they won it.

[SidelineKick]

He was yeah, straight red aswell.  Not sure if he actually struck that day.  What I do remember is shirt was ripped and his shoulder muscle was bulging out of the gap.  Monster of a man!

[tonesfirstandlast]

From the BBC

McEntee appeal on Wednesday night 

John McEntee is sent off by referee Martin Sludden in the final
John McEntee's appeal against the straight red card he received in Sunday's Ulster Club Football final will be heard on Wednesday night.

Crossmaglen's McEntee was handed the straight red card by referee Martin Sludden after being judged to have elbowed Ballinderry's Darren Conway.

As it stands, McEntee is automatically banned for Sunday's replay.

However, McEntee has lodged an appeal which will be heard by the Ulster Council on Wednesday night.

Former Armagh star McEntee insisted after Sunday's game that referee Sludden had "got it wrong".

Three players were sent off and 12 yellow cards shown in the decider.

Michael McNamee of Cross and Ballinderry's Conor Wilkonson were red-carded before McEntee's exit seven minutes from time.

"There was no contact above his fifth rib - if anything, I might have caught his elbow," added McEntee.

"I don't like to criticise referees, but bad referees make bad decisions.

"That was one of many unfortunately. What can you do? We're lucky to get a second chance."



Surely the fcuk he will get off??

I would like to think so.  It would be extremely unfair to punish someone (especially a player who has always played within the rules of the game).  He is what football is all about.  Darren Conway is the opposite.  Watched it again and he went down a second time clutching his throat. Pisses me off.

Was there not a Slaughtneil player who was sent of by the playacting of a Crossmaglen player a few years back. Slaughtneil were in total control at the time but game finished in a draw [ spot the similiarity]. The player was not allowed to play in the replay, Slaughtneil were beaten and the player involved had his suspension lifted when it was proved the Crossmaglen wasn't touched. Sideline, BrokenCrossbar, your memory is surely not that bad!!
There is surely someone in Crossmaglen who is not a saint?

[tonesfirstandlast]

He was yeah, straight red aswell.  Not sure if he actually struck that day.  What I do remember is shirt was ripped and his shoulder muscle was bulging out of the gap.  Monster of a man!

[/b]

I think you are excited there , never realised you you had so much admiration for his body.

[brokencrossbar1]

Tones, I genuinely don't recall what happened, I do remember it being a very bad tempered affair in both the first game and the replay.  If something like that did happen, all I know is that the ref made up for it in the replay and did the same sort of thing the other way

There is no team that doesn't have play actors in them, to smaller or bigger degrees.  The nature though of Conway's fall though leaves a very sour taste.  Not only did he go down, but he stayed down and made out that he was badly hurt.  He was fine to get up and take the shot for the equalising goal.  At least when O'Mahoney went down against Cork he got up fairly sharpish. 

Whatever happens the replay will be very interesting.  Much will depend on how the management can use the events near the end of the game to motivate.  I, for one, know where I would get most motivation from!

[tonesfirstandlast]

Tones, I genuinely don't recall what happened, I do remember it being a very bad tempered affair in both the first game and the replay.  If something like that did happen, all I know is that the ref made up for it in the replay and did the same sort of thing the other way

There is no team that doesn't have play actors in them, to smaller or bigger degrees.  The nature though of Conway's fall though leaves a very sour taste.  Not only did he go down, but he stayed down and made out that he was badly hurt.  He was fine to get up and take the shot for the equalising goal.  At least when O'Mahoney went down against Cork he got up fairly sharpish. 

Whatever happens the replay will be very interesting.  Much will depend on how the management can use the events near the end of the game to motivate.  I, for one, know where I would get most motivation from!

That's exactly the point that i was trying to make BC. Ballinderry would be our major rivals in Derry and suppose like clubs in Armagh with yourselves, there would be no tears lost around here if they lost which I think they will. However, they are a good footballing team and this generation of players would be regarded as a clean team and some would even say, lacking the bottle for big games. I watched trhe game on TV and my feeling after thye game was- WHAT A GAME!! and think that Ballinderry don't deserve some of trhe negative press they have been getting.

[SidelineKick]

He was yeah, straight red aswell.  Not sure if he actually struck that day.  What I do remember is shirt was ripped and his shoulder muscle was bulging out of the gap.  Monster of a man!

[/b]

I think you are excited there , never realised you you had so much admiration for his body.

my hero.

You say you watched it on the tv?? I think its the off the ball stuff and stuff cameras didnt catch that was the main problem.

[tonesfirstandlast]

He was yeah, straight red aswell.  Not sure if he actually struck that day.  What I do remember is shirt was ripped and his shoulder muscle was bulging out of the gap.  Monster of a man!

[/b]

I think you are excited there , never realised you you had so much admiration for his body.

my hero.

You say you watched it on the tv?? I think its the off the ball stuff and stuff cameras didnt catch that was the main problem.

Unlike your honourable friend BC, you refuse to comment on the Slaughtneil, player who was wrongly dismissed at a gtime when they looked certain to win. He was not allowed to play in replay. What's he saying " What comes around goes around".
If his elbow had connected above the 5th Rib, was he saying trhat it would have been deserving of a RED.

[SidelineKick]

Lets get one thing straight, Slaughtneil shit in the nest.  I was at the game in question but I cannot remember the exact incident and I am not just saying that.

I do remember the controversy after it though, was it Shane Kelly? What happened or allegedly happened again? I honestly only need my mind refreshed then I will be able to comment.

EDIT: If I remember correctly did the Slaughtneil 'keeper not drop the ball into the net that day??  Hardly a knock-on effect from the sending off.