Sir, As I watched the "football" match in Croke Park last Sunday (God bless the mark!) I kept asking myself if rules ha gone by the board. Though a least eight men, by my reckoning took part in the goalmouth brawl the referee, after consultation with three officials including on umpire, only sent two to the line.
Why? Did the rules, such as they are, not apply to the others who were clearly seen to punch, kick and assault one another? Or does common assault feature as "manliness" in official GAA thinking?
Apart from this disgraceful exhibition, the remainder of the "match" was littered with trips, elbowing, punching and what have you, only a little of which went in the "book". Euphemisms have since been trotted out by officialdom as excuses for blatant misconduct. I even heard a prominent official describe it as "sad"! Another spoke of players getting "a little bit excited"!
And I listened in disbelief to a senior Meath official saying on, Morning Ireland of September 30th: "No one was killed, thanks be to God . . ." when commenting on the goalmouth brawl. This should prove wonderfully reassuring to parents contemplating introducing a son to Gaelic football in all its manliness. - Yours, etc.,
Ballyroan Road,
Dublin 16.