GAA man suffering 'head trauma'

conno16

Doctors treating a promising Fermanagh GAA player left in a coma after an altercation at a game in the United States have told police his injuries were caused by blunt force trauma to the head.
Mark McGovern (22) from the Belcoo O’Rahilly’s club in Fermanagh was taken to hospital after the incident while playing in his debut for Ulster GAA club San Francisco last Saturday night.
Mr McGovern had not regained consciousness but had shown signs of improvement and had responded to his friends, Fermanagh GAA spokeswoman Deirdre Donnelly said.
It was unclear what exactly had happened during the off-the-ball incident, she said.
“But he has taken a very serious blow to the head,” Ms Donnelly told BBC radio. “We can't jump to conclusions. We don’t know what happened out there,” she said.
She expected that the authorities in San Francisco would investigate the incident and find out what happened.

wouldn't ya think the bloke that did this would just outline specifically what happened
i realise there is a process to be undertaken here, but surely the fella should just describe the incident
hopefully the bloke will make a full recovery

Carcharodon

Could be a lot of reasons as to why the guy that did it has apparently not said what happened, fear, shock, denial....
I usually go to the games but was away that weekend, at the beginning it seemed to be some mystery as to what happened but now it seems clear as to who the culprit was and what happened.

For me personally it outlines one of the reasons why i dont like playing here, it can be over the top dirty at times and there are not enough resources to deal with it. This could obviously happen anywhere but it highlights what one stupid careless moment can do.

It was a lot worse a couple of years ago when some people would only come to the games to see the fights. I find it ironic that it was an American club player that did this, i am probably wrong but maybe if the game was played and taught in a more disciplined way by us Irish then this could of been avoided.

Hope the lad gets better, not a great advertisement for the North American Finals in San Francisco.

Carcharodon

http://www.irishcentral.com/news/Injured-GAA-player-Mark-McGovern-wakes-up-from-coma-126722938.html

Great news for the lad and family, wasn't looking good for a long time, hopefully he keeps the progress up.

conno16

indeed.
has the culprit been arrested yet?

Carcharodon

Not yet as far as I know but there are a lot of conflicting reports going around so no point in saying anything.
I think the 'Ulster Club' (team of injured player) are refusing to play games because the 'Celts' (opposing team) are not fully coorporating with the police or something.

alcomoholic

what exactly happened?
was it just a couple of punches to the head or what?
i mean the lads in the ufc get punched in the head the whole time and dont go into comatose states, what was so particularly violent about this incident?
was he stamping on his head or something?

yesno1234

alcomoholic wrote: »

what exactly happened?
was it just a couple of punches to the head or what?
i mean the lads in the ufc get punched in the head the whole time and dont go into comatose states, what was so particularly violent about this incident?
was he stamping on his head or something?

This is taken from the link above.

After being kicked in the head, two witnesses reported that an opposing player stood over and told an unconscious Mark, “You won’t get up from that,” implying a planned attack. Although there were close to 50 people at the game, only a few people have come forward with statement, the Irish Times reported.

The player that done it should be charged with attempted murder imo, the fella's lucky to be alive.

PARKHEAD67

I hope to fcuk the GAA do the decent thing here and pick up the bill for this young lads medical expenses.They can well affford it. Then go after the culprit. But the bill is over a million now apparently-The US medical system fcuks you if you dont have a medical plan.The GAA should stand up and pay all the medical bills.But will they??

gooch2k9

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

I hope to fcuk the GAA do the decent thing here and pick up the bill for this young lads medical expenses.They can well affford it. Then go after the culprit. But the bill is over a million now apparently-The US medical system fcuks you if you dont have a medical plan.The GAA should stand up and pay all the medical bills.But will they??

In fairness the culprit should be pursued for as much as possible, no place for violence in the game. The GAA should cover anything outstanding after that, however I'd assume there would be an insurance plan in effect.

Stinicker

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

I hope to fcuk the GAA do the decent thing here and pick up the bill for this young lads medical expenses.They can well affford it. Then go after the culprit. But the bill is over a million now apparently-The US medical system fcuks you if you dont have a medical plan.The GAA should stand up and pay all the medical bills.But will they??

If the player was registered and providing they have a similar system in place in the US like they have in Ireland then the club insurance should cover the cost or at least it most likely should if it had occurred on Irish soil. Who cares about money, the main thing is the lad gets the best medical care and hopefully he makes a good recovery and gets to play again. With it being America he could probably sue the fellow who injured him and he should get a lifetime ban if it was a malicious tackle.

PARKHEAD67

Stinicker wrote: »

If the player was registered and providing they have a similar system in place in the US like they have in Ireland then the club insurance should cover the cost or at least it most likely should if it had occurred on Irish soil. Who cares about money, the main thing is the lad gets the best medical care and hopefully he makes a good recovery and gets to play again. With it being America he could probably sue the fellow who injured him and he should get a lifetime ban if it was a malicious tackle.

Trust me, I hope the culprit has to foot the bill eventually. But before that there are lots of bills to be paid.And the Yanks are sticklers for rules.So I hope that the GAA do everything possible to help this fella.They charge us enough to go to these amateur games.Theres lots of money floating around in the GAA coffers. Any outstanding bills should be footed by the GAA. Not this poor mans family.Its a fairly hefty bill. The GAA can then go after the culprit to claim the money back.But for the time being they should be doing everything to help this lad.

gooch2k9

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

Trust me, I hope the culprit has to foot the bill eventually. But before that there are lots of bills to be paid.And the Yanks are sticklers for rules.So I hope that the GAA do everything possible to help this fella.They charge us enough to go to these amateur games.Theres lots of money floating around in the GAA coffers. Any outstanding bills should be footed by the GAA. Not this poor mans family.Its a fairly hefty bill. The GAA can then go after the culprit to claim the money back.But for the time being they should be doing everything to help this lad.

You said the medical bill is at a million at least now, most insurance things I've seen haven't covered that much, unless it's different in America. Hope that the GAA step in if necessary though. Certainly not fair if the family have to foot this bill and I'm sure they'd be willing, but the GAA should clear it. They can afford it.

PARKHEAD67

gooch2k9 wrote: »

You said the medical bill is at a million at least now, most insurance things I've seen haven't covered that much, unless it's different in America. Hope that the GAA step in if necessary though. Certainly not fair if the family have to foot this bill and I'm sure they'd be willing, but the GAA should clear it. They can afford it.

If they dont it will be a huge own goal. They HAVE to. Its a drop in the water to them.

Stinicker

I'd be guessing there is no way the other player could pay a $1million medical bill, most GAA players I know are far from millionaires, all it would do in bankrupt him and ruin his life, (not that he doesn't deserve it for almost killing the lad!), expecting a fellow to pay something this big is insane as I doubt even the likes of Paudi O'Se would have that much dosh in the bank.

gooch2k9

Stinicker wrote: »

I'd be guessing there is no way the other player could pay a $1million medical bill, most GAA players I know are far from millionaires, all it would do in bankrupt him and ruin his life, (not that he doesn't deserve it for almost killing the lad!), expecting a fellow to pay something this big is insane as I doubt even the likes of Paudi O'Se would have that much dosh in the bank.

It wouldn't be unfair after nearly ending another mans life as you say.

ArmaniJeanss

Honestly don't see why this is anything to do with the GAA in Ireland, is the competition he was playing in even controlled by Croke Pk in any meaningful way?
Would set a hugely bad precedent for Croke Pk to commit to medical bills in this case - this is America and its not beyond the realms of possibility that the bills could rise to $5M+.

****
Having said that huge sympathies to his friends and family and will definitely contribute if some fundraising is done.

Carcharodon

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Honestly don't see why this is anything to do with the GAA in Ireland, is the competition he was playing in even controlled by Croke Pk in any meaningful way?
Would set a hugely bad precedent for Croke Pk to commit to medical bills in this case - this is America and its not beyond the realms of possibility that the bills could rise to $5M+.

****
Having said that huge sympathies to his friends and family and will definitely contribute if some fundraising is done.

Yea, it is all linked together.

The family wont have to pay that bill for the sheer fact that they probably wont be able to, some of the bills might be absorbed by the hospital itself and the GAA will probably cough up but who knows.

As regards to the incident, no one actually saw it so everything is hearsay, obviously it was a horrendous result.
Apparently and I stress apparently the injured player was being very aggressive and 'dirty' in the game and thats how it evolved into him getting struck.

The player that hit him has received a 2 year ban from the GAA as far as i know, I doubt if he even wants to play again after this especially being American

bucketybuck

Carcharodon wrote: »

Yea, it is all linked together.

The family wont have to pay that bill for the sheer fact that they probably wont be able to, some of the bills might be absorbed by the hospital itself and the GAA will probably cough up but who knows.

As regards to the incident, no one actually saw it so everything is hearsay, obviously it was a horrendous result.
Apparently and I stress apparently the injured player was being very aggressive and 'dirty' in the game and thats how it evolved into him getting struck.

The player that hit him has received a 2 year ban from the GAA as far as i know, I doubt if he even wants to play again after this especially being American

He is Irish according to reports.

This is a shocking incident, but there will be plenty of apologists who will be quick to slabber about "what happens on the field stays on the field", and who will have no problem sending lads out to do a "job" on an opposing team player. I hope they jail the guy that did this, for a ****ing long time.

As an aside, I wonder will "Paddy Power" have anything to say on the incident?

PARKHEAD67

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

Honestly don't see why this is anything to do with the GAA in Ireland, is the competition he was playing in even controlled by Croke Pk in any meaningful way?
Would set a hugely bad precedent for Croke Pk to commit to medical bills in this case - this is America and its not beyond the realms of possibility that the bills could rise to $5M+.

****
Having said that huge sympathies to his friends and family and will definitely contribute if some fundraising is done.

You for real here? The GAA in Ireland?? New York and London compete in the All IRELAND Championship FFS(London nearly beat Mayo who were AI semi-finalists). If the GAA hang this young mans family out to dry it will do so much damage to the games.I dont give a s*** where this game took place.He was participating in a GAA match.End of story.

PARKHEAD67

bucketybuck wrote: »

He is Irish according to reports.

This is a shocking incident, but there will be plenty of apologists who will be quick to slabber about "what happens on the field stays on the field", and who will have no problem sending lads out to do a "job" on an opposing team player. I hope they jail the guy that did this, for a ****ing long time.

As an aside, I wonder will "Paddy Power" have anything to say on the incident?

Knowing Paddy power he probably will.

PARKHEAD67

Carcharodon wrote: »

Yea, it is all linked together.

The family wont have to pay that bill for the sheer fact that they probably wont be able to, some of the bills might be absorbed by the hospital itself and the GAA will probably cough up but who knows.

As regards to the incident, no one actually saw it so everything is hearsay, obviously it was a horrendous result.
Apparently and I stress apparently the injured player was being very aggressive and 'dirty' in the game and thats how it evolved into him getting struck.

The player that hit him has received a 2 year ban from the GAA as far as i know, I doubt if he even wants to play again after this especially being American

Apparently means "This could be bull****".

n32

The GAA have really let themselves down in this incident. I ve been playing my whole life and I ve never been as sickened by an incident as this. The player who inflicted the injury has only received a 2 year ban. " years is a disgrace. THis thug shold have been banned for life. If he had laid hands on a referee he would have been given a life ban. Incidents against referees are dealt with much more severely. In the GAAs mind a referee is a lot more important than a player. Its shocking disrespectful to Mark McGovern that his assailant will be back playing the game while he s trying to learn how to walk and talk properly.
The most sickening aspect of the whole affair is that nobody who was at the match had the guts to talk to the San Francisco Police when they investigated the incident. Theres no honour in protecting a scumbag like that and shame on anyone who is keeping their mouth shut. Even his own team should have given him up. And if the GAA can suspend him, surely they can identify him for the cops.

Carcharodon

bucketybuck wrote: »

He is Irish according to reports.

You are right, he is Irish, I just presumed he was always American because of the team he plays for, dont know him but know a lot of people that do and he is supposed to be a nice lad, really sad he has let himself down by this.

PARKHEAD67 wrote: »

Apparently means "This could be bull****".

Thats why I said it twice :rolleyes: Also it came for several different unrelated sources but i still wouldn't take it as fact by no means.

bucketybuck

Carcharodon wrote: »

he is supposed to be a nice lad, really sad he has let himself down by this.

Ha! I hope this nice lad rots in prison for his actions.

aidan24326

Not much point going after the assailant for costs, as I doubt he has a couple of million lying around in his bank account. Should be charged with GBH though.

And I doubt if Mark McGovern's family have that sort of money either (not many do), so I really hope there's some sort of insurance or something in place to cover the costs or at least a big chunk of them. Medical treatment in the US is insanely expensive.