Saturday, July 31, 2010 Previous editions
JUSTIN McCARTHY has extended the hand of friendship to his exiled Limerick hurlers.
Cork fans seem more rueful than angry after Kerry's All Ireland senior football victory on Sunday. What's the point in being angry when you run into a class act like the Kingdom's footballers? At the same time, some fans argue that the dominance of Kerry and Kilkenny over the football and hurling championships is not good for the GAA.
Cork fans seem more rueful than angry after Kerry's All Ireland senior football victory on Sunday.
Fallout from the All Ireland senior hurling final between Kilkenny and Tipperary continues. If it's not the standard of refereeing, it's the attempted ban on pitch invasions that's agitating fans. One Kilkenny Cat is fuming about comments made here last week about the All Ireland champions.
Fallout from the All Ireland senior hurling final between Kilkenny and Tipperary continues.
Anyone who thought we might get past an exhilarating game like Sunday's All Ireland senior hurling final without controversy was sadly mistaken. On the contrary, a number of key refereeing decisions are the focus of a heated debate about their effect on the result. The GAA's King Canute-like attempts to prevent a flood of fans onto the pitch after the final whistle also come in for fierce criticism from traditionalists and even the handling of the presentation to the minors gets a right lash from a disgruntled fan.
Anyone who thought we might get past an exhilarating game like Sunday’s All Ireland senior hurling final without controversy was sadly mistaken.
Fans are deeply divided – and certainly angry – about whether or not Kerry should have been awarded a penalty in the opening few minutes of Sunday’s All Ireland senior football semi final. Apart from that incident, opinion is united that it was a remarkably poor game to watch.
Fans are deeply divided – and certainly angry – about whether or not Kerry should have been awarded a penalty in the opening few minutes of Sunday’s All Ireland senior football semi final.
Fans in other counties may be angry about one thing or another, but this week in Cork everyone seems to be deliriously happy following their senior footballers' defeat of All Ireland champions Tyrone. However, there is anger at some of referee John Bannon's decisions in that game, notably his sending off of Cork midfielder Alan O'Connor.
Fans in other counties may be angry about one thing or another, but this week in Cork everyone seems to be deliriously happy following their senior footballers’ defeat of All Ireland champions Tyrone.
Inevitably, after a one-sided hammering like Sunday’s All Ireland senior hurling semi final, fans of the defeated county feel a range of emotions. Anger is undoubtedly one of them. Shell shock is another. That’s the way Limerick fans have reacted, with harsh comments directed at their Bainisteoir, Just-In McCarthy, their county board and even their hapless players.
Inevitably, after a one-sided hammering like Sunday's All Ireland senior hurling semi final, fans of the defeated county feel a range of emotions.
After their county goes out at the quarter or semi final stage of the championship we can expect angry reaction to their fate from some fans. So it was after the close fought and exciting Meath v Mayo football match and the immensely enjoyable Waterford v Kilkenny hurling game in Croke Park on Sunday. Mistakenly, in our view, some fans are directing their ire at referees and linesmen when maybe the real reason for losing lay closer to home.
After their county goes out at the quarter or semi final stage of the championship we can expect angry reaction to their fate from some fans.
Hurling fans are concerned about the state of the re-laid Croke Park pitch. They're not angry yet, but they will be, if a slip in front of goal at a vital time decides the outcome of next Sunday's big game between Waterford and Kilkenny.
There’s a veritable tsunami of criticism of the standard of umpiring during both senior hurling quarter finals at Semple Stadium at the weekend. The fans’ wrath is palpable and – to be honest – understandable
There’s a veritable tsunami of criticism of the standard of umpiring during both senior hurling quarter finals at Semple Stadium at the weekend.
Saturday night’s events in Semple Stadium have left Cork hurling fans not so much angry – though they are a bit of that – as fretful and worried about the future and they are trotting out various remedies to get back on the winning trail.
Saturday night’s events in Semple Stadium have left Cork hurling fans not so much angry – though they are a bit of that – as fretful and worried about the future and they are trotting out various remedies to get back on the winning trail.
The List of Shame of poorly managed venues, currently headed by Páirc Uí Chaoimh, has been joined by not one, but two Cusack Parks – the one in Ennis and the other one in Mullingar – plus Wexford Park. Once again, fans are angry about badly organised stewarding, crazy starting times and ticketing arrangements. What a way to honour Cusack’s name in the 125th year of the Association he helped to found?
The List of Shame of poorly managed venues, currently headed by Páirc Uí Chaoimh, has been joined by not one, but two Cusack Parks – the one in Ennis and the other one in Mullingar – plus Wexford Park. Once again, fans are angry about badly organised stewarding, crazy starting times and ticketing arrangements. What a way to honour Cusack’s name in the 125th year of the Association he helped to found?
There are two recurring targets for fans’ anger, week in, week out – ‘The Sunday Game’ and the conditions at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. There is praise for the quality of RTÉ’s preview of the Munster hurling final but disappointment at its scheduling. Things are reported to have improved at the Stadium of Lee, but there’s still a long way to go.
There are two recurring targets for fans’ anger, week in, week out – ‘The Sunday Game’ and the conditions at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
More and more angry fans are complaining about television coverage of big games. This could also be down to more fans staying away from the games and preferring to watch them in the – cost-free – comfort of their own homes or their local pub. Anyway, this week again, there’s praise and criticism in equal measure again for RTÉ and TV3.
More and more angry fans are complaining about television coverage of big games.
Despite some great hurling games at the weekend, many fans are still in a touchy mood – even with their own counties!
Despite some great hurling games at the weekend, many fans are still in a touchy mood – even with their own counties!
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