Sport

Danny Hughes: Kieran McGeeney ban way over the top

Armagh Manager Kieran McGeeney
Armagh Manager Kieran McGeeney Armagh Manager Kieran McGeeney

LAST week I got a great text from a former Down referee who had served the county well for years, Mickey Cranny.

Mickey was a great character and served his time at inter-county level for many years also.

What I didn’t know until Mickey told me was that Pat McEnaney actually copied his form of refereeing and that calling a player by his first name was actually Mickey’s concept.

I am sure even Pat will admit that imitation is the best form of flattery.

Pat and Mickey would have not taken much guff and were respected for it, but they were practical men and I would doubt that either man would recommend any GAA man get a 12-week ban.

Kieran McGeeney’s 12-week ban seems completely over the top.

I don’t think that anyone deserves that sort of punishment.

A lot has been made of Davy Fitz running off the line to confront an opposition player.

Eight weeks for Davy seems a bit harsh too.

In Davy’s case though, like many of us, sometimes he still thinks he is playing and is unwilling to accept that he can’t control what goes on in the same way he did as a player.

I appeared before a few committees before in my time for disciplinary reasons.

Most were for mistaken identity and I was always innocent, but after one or two experiences with the ‘suits’ I eventually concluded that there was little point in actually attending or contesting the bans.

If Kieran’s or Davy’s experiences were anything like mine it probably went along these lines.

Firstly you arrive in decent time for the hearing, but not too early.

I have a theory that these committees realise this and then they make you wait an extraordinarily long time outside the room, almost like waiting at the principal’s office, allowing the suspense to build.

Then you are called into the hearing.

The room usually smells of egg and onion sandwiches and Old Spice aftershave.

Being the Gentleman that you are, you shake the committee’s members hands and thank them for seeing you.

They are in control now.

You have memorised the script.

Maybe you have even called on the local GAA historian or parish GAA rule book expert beforehand, your very own Kevin McStay, to give you possible ‘outs’.

Your confident that these many ‘outs’ will get your off.

You talk at length and they nod at you and seem interested and finally accept that your version is pretty thorough and well-articulated.

You get the odd question, but generally the committee all say nothing except for the chairman who seems in a hurry to get the whole thing finished as he has ‘a wake to go to’.

‘I think that went well’ you say afterwards to the loyal GAA fanatic who has taken you to the meeting.

The following week, you later find out that they have actually doubled the ban.

The local fanatic is more devastated than you and tears will stream down his face.

He curses the suits.

What I have learned is that a referee’s report on a GAA game is biblical.

You cannot change it once it is submitted.

It is never questioned and it forms the basis for the ban.

I am sure that Kieran McGeeney did perhaps say some things to Joe McQuillan that were perhaps communicated inappropriately.

To be fair to Joe McQuillan, he is probably more used to be more controversial as referee rather than as a linesman.

But by handing out the 12-week ban, the GAA hope to eradicate any form of indiscipline directed toward officials.

The only problem is that the abusing of officials is something which has been ingrained in players, supporters and managers since the game was born two centuries ago.

This doesn’t make it right, it is just the way it is unfortunately.

In passionate moments, we have all lost the head for want of a better term.

You eradicate the passion from the game and what have you got on the flip side?

Rugby has a completely different culture.

I say that though after watching footage of a Rugby union league game in France, when a player gives away a penalty and walks over and knocks the referee out with one punch.

Generally, it is frowned upon to question the decision of a referee in Rugby though.

No such indiscipline problems toward officials, but cheating, eye gouging and dangerous play are still very much part of the game.

I don’t really know how banning Kieran McGeeney from the side-lines or Davy Fitzgerald for that matter, punishes either the individual or the team for the alleged offences.

With the Championship starting in a couple of weeks, on match day, the absence of a manager from the side line will make little to no impact.

In fact, for most teams nowadays, a member of the management team will usually be in the stands anyway so again any negative impact will be minimal.

I always felt that you could judge a game better from a stand or terrace than pitch-side.

And it is funny how different management styles in Rugby and GAA play out.

Rugby’s coaches will all sit in a box, wired up like the back of my TV at home.

Whereas the GAA manager will always be stationed on the side-line.

So I have sympathy with McGeeney and Davy Fitz with the bans handed down more about protecting the officials and ensuring that the rulebook is followed to the ‘letter’.

One player Armagh and McGeeney could be doing with when they play Down in June is Andy Mallon who decided to retire last week.

Without question Andy was one of the best defenders of his generation and one of the best I frequently encountered over the years.

Quick, agile and fiercely strong, we tended to be pitted against each other more times than I would have preferred.

He was by all accounts one of the fittest lads to have ever played for Armagh and as I prided myself on that particular area I can testify as to that athleticism whenever we met.

His absence from the Armagh defence in recent years has resulted in a significant increase in scores against and it is no coincidence that Down forwards, even now, will get a lift from this news.

I wish him well in retirement and can always say that his qualities as a defender and man marker did not involve ‘black arts’ but sheer talent and willingness and determination.

I saw enough of him on the field, I don’t want to see him again.

Best wishes Andy.