Hooliganism at GAA games

[walrusgumble]

I don't know why the media are so shocked at this.

I know of two local teams that have been kicking 7 shades of s**t out of each other on an almost annual basis as long as anyone can remember. Spectators, subs benches the whole lot.

Shure,its a man's game, the pride of the parish is at stake.

[Cruimh]

There does seems to be an increase lately in violence at GAA matches - at least from the coverage I've seen and heard tho I am not a regular fan. Used to be GAA supporters prided themselves on the family atmosphere and from going to matches 20-30 years ago I don't recall any violence on pitch or off. Scuffling used to be for parish teams but senior matches were generally well governed.

Is it symptomatic of something I wonder? Maybe people copying what they see in other sports on the telly?

The other thing I was wondering - is Gaelic Football becoming more professional - as we have seen with other amateur sports once money and especially betting enter the frame while standard of play might improve, standards of behaviour drop ?

Also an interesting point about an echo of faction fighting.

[walrusgumble]

It is not dumb at all. I don't recall rugby supporters beating the head off each other but I can think of umpteen GAA matches where supporters got involved. The "Ladies" football match up in Tyrone, the Louth/Meath Leinster final 2 years ago, the Wicklow brawl 2 years ago etc

This will sound very insensitive, but remember the sad case of Annabel death? Wasn't that boiled over partly on the basis of schools rugby rivalry? Fine representatives of rugby they were (in being anywhere next or near involved in the scuffle, I am aware that some of the lad's cases were overturned)

[bob3367]

Emotions run high at a club level,I remember one JC match in Cork, and they were knocking 7 types of shyte out of each other, and there wasn't even a ball on the pitch.

Match over, all into the pub, for pints, and the slagging

At inter county level there is little if any aggro, just good honest banter.

[Humbert]

I used to work in a factory and the lads used to come in on Monday morning heads hanging off them talking about the Sunday - mass, GAA match, get drunk, meet the opposing team in night club that night - big row, get drunk, happy days. But they were young lads - now it seems to be county teams, trainers, attacking refs etc

[walrusgumble]

I used to work in a factory and the lads used to come in on Monday morning heads hanging off them talking about the Sunday - mass, GAA match, get drunk, meet the opposing team in night club that night - big row, get drunk, happy days. But they were young lads - now it seems to be county teams, trainers, attacking refs etc

Sounds like a great Sunday afternoon

[Humbert]

Well the lads on the line certainly thought so!

Sounds like a great Sunday afternoon

[Nermal]

It starts on the pitch. If the teams backchat and disrespect the referee, it's a short step for they and their fans to begin to disrespect one another as well...

[Georgeblaine]

While the GAA has had incidents like this before and probably will again lets not use it as a stick to beat it with, though they must take action and learn. The GAA has a unique and proud tradition of rival supporters being able sit side by side at all games at all levels. So for reasons largely based on social upbringing and education the GAA's number of unflattering incidents lies somewhere between soccer and rugby (who let it be said have had their own).

[Pat Mc Larnon]

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