Sport

Danny Hughes: A nation losing the run of itself over an eye gouge

Ugly scenes at the end of full time of the Armagh and Galway game
Ugly scenes at the end of full time of the Armagh and Galway game Ugly scenes at the end of full time of the Armagh and Galway game

A SIGNIFICANT number of people will say that last weekend’s melee spoiled what was a classic game between Galway and Armagh.

Personally, a grapple and a few swinging arms are all part of this gladiatorial contest that we love in Gaelic Games.

What spoiled the incident was the perceived eye gouge on Damien Comer.

Now, allow me to be open minded for the purposes of that incident.

No-one, not Kieran McGeeney, or even the most loyal of Armagh team-mates would excuse an eye gouge.

I know of Tiernan Kelly and he is a very sound and good person.

Indeed the Armagh players I know are humble and very personable lads.

I know, why wouldn’t they be - however it’s always safer for lads in the inter-county bubble to avoid the general public given the glare of social media nowadays.

In the moment of ‘that’ incident, I do not believe that this young man attempted to eye gouge another player.

I agree, it may have been a stupid thing to do, when you grab at someone’s face then you leave yourself open to that very accusation.

Strange things happen when you put people into an environment when they feel under threat.

And by the very nature of high-level sport, the physiological and psychological element of our being is perceived as being under threat.

Before you even take to the field, the heart is beating, breathing is heavier and you are sweating.

The body and mind is in ‘fight or flight’ mode.

Where the mind goes, the body flows.

I always had the unhealthy obsession when playing - that it was matter of life and death.

I am sure this is no different than James Morgan or Damien Comer, Kieran McGeeney or Padraic Joyce.

We want our players to care – if they didn’t, what then is competitive sport?

We have also been taught by our parents, brothers, team-mates and friends to stand up for ourselves.

Taught to never take a step back.

Instead of running away, we stand and we are prepared to fight – prepared to ‘be a man’ in layman’s terms.

Of course, it is an archaic way of thinking. However, we love our hurling and football.

Through it, in many cases, it highlights the very best of us.

You cannot forget that the very best was on show last weekend in all the games, particularly in the Galway-Armagh match.

In a time of a ‘cancel’ culture, when the slightest infringement and mistake could cost you your reputation, it is difficult to accept that when you feel that someone is trying to deny you from getting something, or you feel under threat, you are capable of doing anything, even if it’s totally outside your character.

I suspect that Armagh’s Tiernan Kelly will feel like this.

I have no doubt he will be banned and he will accept it.

But we have seen incidents like this at headquarters before, in bigger games and I don’t remember anything near the same levels of scrutiny.

In many ways the reaction from large sections of punditry and indeed social media from persons who should know better, in my opinion, has been excessive, hysterical and hypocritical.

Matt Cooper, a brilliant journalist, questioned the need for Garda involvement.

Seriously, Matt?

Micheál Martin was asked about it and described the incident as ‘disturbing’!

This was just cowering to popular punch-lines.

Additionally, Martin must not have visited Dublin’s O’Connell Street lately – in my opinion the anti-social behaviour and homelessness present is something I would consider as warranting that use of the word ‘disturbing’.

When it comes to competitive sport, pure instinct tends to sometimes get the better of the rational part of our thinking.

It goes back to the very human part in all of us.

Most of us control it pretty well and the very greatest players can keep a clear mind, despite the pressure and make the right decisions with exquisite efficiency.

We all make mistakes in the heat of the moment.

We are all entitled to say sorry and mean it.

Our game is one of emotion and thank God for that – so it is important to consider perspective on the game and that of a two-minute ‘melee’.

Damian Comer was unhurt and the game continued to be a classic.

Penalties are cruel and those who scored them showed real class in tucking away theirs.

However, I am not sure they are the best way to decide the outcome of a championship quarter-final, semi-final or final.

I understand the logic: a condensed season means games are already crammed in.

Contrastingly, you have provincial winners, like Kerry, having four weeks between games which is not ideal either.

Thinking over the penalty rule - perhaps there is merit in a ‘golden’ score should extra-time not separate teams.

You play further additional time with the next score being the winner (ten minutes a half until a team scores).

If not, then the last resort is perhaps a replay.

Part of me would say that it is unfair to ask fans to come back for a replay, with all the expense this entails currently.

On the game itself, there is very little to add from me in what has been written and said.

I must admit, this Galway team are better than I thought.

Shane Walsh, Damien Comer and Paul Conroy are fantastic players, but other guys like Cillian McDaid, Matthew Tierney and Rob Finnerty were brilliant for the Tribesmen against Armagh.

Overall, you can’t deny that Galway played well and are worthy semi-finalists.

Unfortunately the manner in which referee David Coldrick dealt with the melee was bizarre as Aiden Nugent was having his best Championship match to date and added time could have brought further scores for him.

Why or how did they pick these individuals out of that particular incident?

The only way to negate this from happening again and indeed to help out the officials generally is a second on-field referee or a TMO (akin to rugby).

A second official may have been able to get to that incident prior to its implosion so in effect prevent a further escalation.

A TMO means the eye in the sky is watching everything and everyone.

This doesn’t slow the game down, but helps the referee.

The stakes are too high now not to introduce it.

Look at the way Sky-hawk is now helping to confirm scores at headquarters.

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I SAW nothing last weekend that would scare a Derry-man into thinking that an All-Ireland title wasn’t possible.

Clare may have been poor, but the Oak Leaf made them look particularly inept.

Both Kerry and Dublin were convincing enough and many said they were playing in second or third gear.

I would worry though, at this stage you need to be nearing that level of performance when it is no longer a matter of flicking a switch to reach optimum performance.

Certainly Derry are prepared to show their hand and of all the teams in the last four, I feel we still know them the least, which makes them possibly the most dangerous.

What an opportunity the Oak Leaf have.