THERE is something strange going on down around Tyrone this week. What have they put in the drinking water? Have they diverted the source to the Erne? Whatever is happening, it is causing an apparently sudden switch in footballing allegiances to the green of Fermanagh.
Far from waiting with baited breath for the throw-in at Clones on Sunday, where their own county will be gunning for a first Ulster title since 2010, the men and women from the O’Neill county have been left foaming at the mouth at the slight upon their near neighbours the previous weekend.
When Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea hit the deck in Castlebar and referee Joe McQuillan then pointed to the penalty spot, the reverberations were felt from Cookstown to Castlederg, causing a gnashing and a wailing of unprecedented proportions. Strange times indeed.
To begin with, ‘Tyrone fan’ appeared particularly upset: “Still waiting for [Aidan] O'Shea to get a proposed eight-week ban, for RTÉ to go on about the 'bad smell' (in the famous words of Colm O’Rourke) and for former Meath greats to tweet that O'Shea needs a hiding.”
‘Tyrone caller’ was on the blower immediately after watching last Saturday’s victory: “It was never a penalty - a wrong call by Joe McQuillan, who never consulted his umpires. What the GAA should do now is decide on no more matches for McQuillan this summer, for he cost Fermanagh.”
‘Square Ball 57’ first wished to clear the air: “As an ardent Tyrone fan, I have no great affection towards Fermanagh, especially the mouthy female supporter at this year’s league game at Brewster Park. If she reads Off the Fence, she's the one who made abusive remarks about a certain Tyrone player’s posterior size.
But in the new spirit of the age (the past five days), ‘Square Ball’ is determined to let bygones be bygones: “However, leaving all that aside, I cannot help but feel sorry for the way they [Fermanagh] were dumped out last Saturday.
“It is my belief that Ulster sides playing a team from any other province should insist on not being refereed by an official from Ulster. That referee will normally do the Ulster side no favours and will go out of their way to show they are not being biased. Perhaps Joe McQuillan awarding the penalty was some sort of payback to Mayo for his blowing up the match early in the 2013 All Ireland final, when the Dubs beat them by a point. It appears Cillian O'Connor, who opted to point instead of going for goal, up until last Saturday had not forgiven ‘Joe the Whistler’ for that blunder.”
‘Rosaleen’ doesn’t say where she hails from, but it’s not out of the question she is a member of the new Fermanagh Supporters Club which has sprung up around the Moy: “I cannot understand why some GAA people are saying Aidan O’Shea will have woken up and realised he made a mistake.
“He will have done no such thing. His manager said he deserved a bit of luck. Fermanagh players deserved an honest opposition. They didn't get it.”
Could a certain incident involving a certain Tiernán McCann and the national hysteria which greeted it be the motivating factor behind Tyrone fans’ fierce desire to see justice done to the Erne county? Surely not.
To be fair, there was some interest in this weekend’s Ulster final, but it didn’t come from the expected sources.
‘Down man’ waxes lyrical in proclaiming Donegal “will easily darken the false dawn created by Tyrone’s facile win over Cavan”.
“This inconsistent Tyrone team haven’t got the forwards to penetrate a well-drilled Donegal defence. They haven’t got experienced free-takers to take advantage of frees around the 45-metre line. There are no forwards on the present team to fill the boots of Canavan, O’Neill or Mulligan.
“After the Ulster final, Tyrone will be hoping for a kind draw in the Qualifiers,” he adds.
Someone like Longford, perhaps?
‘Anonymous’ is also looking forward to the Clones decider: “I fancy Tyrone, but I think, if Donegal want to have any chance of winning, they must play Michael Murphy at full-forward because he’s not the same player when they keep him out at the middle of the field.
“Instead of 20 or 30 passes, kick the ball into him,” is the succinct advice.
The jury does seem somewhat divided over the outcome of Sunday’s clash. Is another Ulster replay on the cards?
It isn’t just referees who have been the target of opprobrium this week, the GAA’s pricing and ticket structure has also received both barrels from concerned Gaels.
‘Liz, a volunteer at Pearse’s, Kilrea’, was at the Derry v Meath All-Ireland Qualifier last weekend: “Could the Ulster Council and county boards have a little think on what they charge into matches of late,” she requests.
“Take Owenbeg at the weekend for backdoor matches and one match only - £16 per adult, £5 per child. This would leave a couple with four kids paying £52 for entry, never mind buying treats at the shop. How does the great GAA intend spending all this wealth? Could our clubs benefit from it please?
“We are struggling along on the goodwill of our volunteers and fundraisers to keep our heads above water. Think again about keeping the young people able to continue supporting our teams with a more realistic entry cost.”
‘Frank from Coalisland’ is very much in the same camp: “I think it’s a disgrace the GAA are charging £16 into a Championship match,” he says.
“If they were charging £10 and a fiver, it would be more acceptable. In this day and age, people need a bit of support. We need to be supporting the people standing on the banks and giving them a chance to see the games.
“Sixteen pounds could be a good bit of money to people. I’m a GAA fan, but the GAA is going to stand for ‘Grab All Association’ if this goes on. Did you ever hear the like of charging U16s?”
This particular reporter remembers muttering the famous words ‘under 16’ at the turnstiles until he was touching 20 and sporting a beard. Surely every teenager should be given the same opportunity?
Brendan, a season ticket holder at Clones, says seats for ticket holders are “disgraceful”: “On the 14-yard line and four or five yards from the front,” was his limited view of the Cavan v Tyrone replay.
“I just got my email from Croke Park telling me that all season ticket holders will be seated in the Pat McGrane stand for the final, which is a disgrace. We pay our money up front before a ball has been kicked in the league. To be treated like this is terrible.”
Given the Pat McGrane stand is uncovered Brendan, would it be the prospect of rain that’s worrying you? Some showers are expected on Sunday right enough, so you may bring a brolly.
Regarding ticket prices, given the GAA stood to gain in excess of €30million from its three-year broadcasting deal with Sky Sports, perhaps a price review for hard-pressed spectators shouldn’t be out of the question.
There’s only one place to finish this week and that’s in sunny Spain. Presumably, most Bhoys were crying behind their sofas on Tuesday night, but one despairing ‘Celtic supporter’ did call Off the Fence to sarcastically label the disaster in Gibraltar as “some start” for Carnlough man Brendan Rodgers.
The “worst defeat ever,” ‘Celtic supporter’ called it.
“The first mistake he [Rodgers] made was to reappoint Scott Brown as captain. I’m surprised he didn’t appoint Efe Ambrose as vice-captain – Ambrose is always one step away from a mistake.
“He could’ve taken 11 Celtic supporters from the crowd and they would’ve done better.”
Then again, Lincoln Red Imps could have selected 11 of their own supporters and they may still have beaten the Celts.
