OFF THE FENCE
FINALLY our readers have got to the bottom of what's wrong with Gaelic football. The answer? Why, Tyrone of course. As one of our contributors in today's Off The Fence said: "It's always Tyrone's fault". Of course, Off The Fence is cantankerous by nature - so while most of our contributors came out in support of the Tyrone U21s following the fall-out to last Saturday's All-Ireland final against Tipperary, there was some stinging criticism for the Red Hand county as well.
WE'LL start with 'SB Belfast Gael' who castigates members of the southern 'meedja' for portraying northern teams in a negative light.
"THE bitter whinging fall-out from some within the GAA and southern media following Tyrone's U21 win against Tipperary fully vindicates the stance that Tyrone took in the first place towards these people," writes 'SB'.
"Never have I seen as much yapping, moaning and excuses being churned out for one team: Tyrone winning and another side - Tipperary - losing.
"So Tyrone may have wound the Tipp players up with a few verbals? Big deal.
"It happens in all sports all the time whether we like it or not. Tipperary should hear what the Aussie cricketers say to their English counterparts on the pitch!
"The fact is that the Tipp side were a far bigger, more physical team than a smaller Tyrone side who tried to counteract this, and if Tipp are easily intimidated by their opponents' mind games and a few industrial words then they are in the wrong game."
SB continues: "Effectively, it boils down to those damn 'Nordies' once again not knowing their place and being their usual (stereotypical) cynical, physical, dirty selves... Rhubarb, rhubarb!
"The northern 'savages' had the audacity to ruin the script by beating the Tipperary favourites: how dare they!
"If anyone ever had any doubt that anti-Northern prejudice is endemic within the GAA and southern media this should be put to bed for good now. A partitionist, border mentality runs right through the Association and 26-county journalism like lettering through a stick of rock.
"I have been a member of the GAA for over 30 years and feel that this anti-Ulster sentiment and atmosphere is as bad and poisonous as it ever has been.
"Then again when these same these southern media outlets and sports pundits set such a hostile tone towards the north is it any wonder many in the Free State feel the right to say anything they want as offensive, derogatory and insulting about the Ulster GAA and 'Nordies'?
"The GAA is now effectively split in two with different standards and rules being applied to Ulster and six-county teams, especially. Should we then also be surprised in such a context that Gaelic Games in Belfast and Antrim are on the wane and that soccer is now the number one sport in nationalist areas?
"I mean, who would want to be part of an organisation and set-up that effectively treats you as second class, applies different rules and standards AND who has had their fill of being continually demonised and ridiculed by so-called Irish media outlets that treat you like dirt?
"Nationalists in the north of Ireland had enough of that for 50 years within this 'Statelet' and won't accept it now from the GAA and southern media either."
RESPONSE: I hate fence-sitters.
A 'BELLAGHY Caller' left this short and sweet message: "I would like to congratulate Tyrone on winning the All-Ireland U21 title."
WHILE most of Ulster battened down the hatches, 'John from Newry' was this week's conscientious objector and launched a scathing attacking on Tyrone football.
"Well done Tipperary for taking a stand against what went on during Saturday's U21 final," says 'John'.
"The gamesmanship was bad enough but what was worse were the verbals/'sledging' that the Tipperary players had to put up with and which was ignored by all the officials.
"I attended the match in Dublin on Saturday night and could see it for myself.
"Over the past 10 or 12 years, Tyrone have brought 'sledging' to new levels of depravity and it is obvious that this group of players have learned very quickly from their tutors. Another tarnished triumph for Tyrone and another sad day for the reputation of Gaelic football on how it should - or should I say - shouldn't be played."
RESPONSE: So what you're saying is the dark arts of Gaelic football is the sole preserve of Tyrone? Surely not.
'DECLAN life-long Tyrone fan' attended Saturday's epic contest between Tyrone and Tipperary and shared a conversation/exchange he had with a Tipperary supporter at the end of the game.
"Here we go again. It's all Tyrone' fault," says 'Declan'.
"I was told by a Tipperary fan as I left the stand on Saturday night that we had stooped to a new low - off-the-ball incidents, our backs were a disgrace...
"I was told we had cloned 'Ricey' McMenamin and mass produced him. I asked him: 'If you were winning by a point and hanging on for dear life, are you going to stand back and let the other team play?'
"His answer was that we were a disgrace. But when I see how Cathal McShane was targeted and stamped on and how the Tipp manager behaved in his after-match comments and the backroom team preventing Feargal Logan from entering the Tipp dressing-room, I thought the Tipp fan was right about stooping to a new low. He just got the wrong team."
AND finally, 'Down Caller' praised Kenny Archer's 'Hitting the Target' column (May 6) for Tipperary's double standards.
"I'm from Down with relations in Tipperary. I wouldn't be that keen on Tyrone but I thought Kenny Archer's column was definitely on the ball. That was a nasty stamp by Steven O'Brien on Cathal McShane and yet it was hardly mentioned.
"I was listening to a southern radio show and mention was made of Tyrone's cynical attitude. The host said he was looking forward to asking Peter Canavan about it when he comes on his programme later this week. Someone should point out to the radio host the stamping incident from the Tipperary player which didn't receive any comment."
RESPONSE: O'Brien's stamp is only getting a profile now by way of Tyrone responding to the criticism they've endured since Saturday night.
