Madam, - It's my sincere hope that players who behave as many did in the Dublin-Meath match will stop and think of the thousands of young players whom mentors all over the country are trying to teach to respect each other, referees and opponents.
The fear of red cards does not appear to work, so maybe they should be forced to go along to training sessions throughout their counties and teach these young players how to play the game in the correct spirit. As a mentor and GAA fan it is so disappointing to be let down by the behaviour of these and many other inter-county "stars". - Yours, etc,
DONAL O'HAGAN,
Hilltown Lawn,
Swords,
Co Dublin.
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Madam, - At a time when the the media are full of reports of violence it is pathetic to witness violence when we take our children for some Sunday afternoon entertainment. A few suggestions:
1. The Meath and Dublin team managers should consider their positions. As the incident happened within minutes of the start, it would appear to me that the motivation tactics used in the dressing-rooms were in some way responsible. There is a difference between motivating your team to perform to the best of their abilities and inciting them, possibly to the point of violence.
2. The referee should have abandoned the game. I appreciate he reacted correctly up to a point, but if the "third man" rule were applied, 27 players would be penalised. All the players should have been sent home and invited to return when they could behave like adults.
3. The chairpersons of all clubs in Dublin and Meath should come out and condemn the behaviour, either as a motion at their next meetings or in an open letter.
4. Fans should now vote with their feet and stay at home during the next match.
Is there any hope for the next generation? - Yours, etc,
CATHERINE HIGGINS,
Rush,
Co Dublin.
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Madam, - The appalling violence involving the Dublin and Meath players in Parnell Park on Sunday was yet another blow to those of us who try weekly to encourage a love of the skills of Gaelic football in the children entrusted to us for that same purpose by their parents. But even more demoralising was the failure yet again by the Dublin manager Paul Caffrey to clearly say publicly that such behaviour has no place in Gaelic football.
For the second time in a few weeks he had the perfect opportunity to send a clear message that skill and not thuggery is what football is about. Does this silence and his public back-slapping of an offending player a few weeks ago not imply support for such antics and the bad example it gives younger players? - Yours, etc,
EOIN RONAYNE,
Sandyford,
Dublin 18.