Booing at games

cruiserweight

Is it just me or has booing of players, in particular free takers, on the increase?

I find this a disgusting habit, these players are amateurs and are making a lot of sacrifices to entertain and delight fans! This is not the reserve of fans from any county, I have seen and heard fans from my own county Wexford do it! But I have to say the worst display of trying to put a player off this year was whn fireworks were fired over the pitch when Redmond Barry was about to take a penalty in the Leinster championship! Again that was one idiot but it is up to decent fans to be part of the solution and weed these people out!

Some peopl will argue that it is part of the banter and fun, I disagree it is not! We should take a lead from the rugby supporters in Thomond Park, anytime I see Munster games on the telly they have upmost respect for the opposition and the silence for kicks seems to have a more off putting effect than any boos!

kaimera

I did notice it more this weekend for some reason and I agree it has no place in GAA.

I cant think off hand on how it could be prevented tho...

The Rooster

I'd never boo myself, but agree it has increased this year. The Dubs are probably the most high profile offenders coz they make the most noise. It used to be only when a disputed free was given , but in recent games its been pretty much every free, into the Hill anyway. And of course when you get the odd miss, it exacerbates it and it appears to be working.

The Red Barry was completely different. Disgusting, shameful and embarrasing for all Dubs fans. Thankfully it hasnt been repeated in the 3 games since.

Another unsporting thing that I noticed particularly on Saturday was thrash talking. Ryan McMenamin, who although not marking Quinn made it his business to go over to him before and after every free to "have a few words". Sean Cavanaugh also was in Declan Lally's ear from the moment he came on, and took particular joy in ramming the second goal down his throat. Mossie and Dec being two of the quieter lads on the Dublin panel, if that of any relevance.

What do people make of that? All part of the game trying to psyche someone out if it? Or unsporting nasty behaviour that has no place in our games?

Culchie

I think the 'words in the ear' has gone on the last 15 years or so.... just that Cameras pick it all up so much better now.

It was a 'word in the ear' that starting the famous Mayo/Meath scramble in the goal mouth.

It's not nice, but it is used to get inside their opponents head.... unfortunately it does work.

cruiserweight

On the trash talking thing, I think it happens quite a bit, I remember having players say stuff to me while playing minor :rolleyes: Although I don't condone it, it is part of the game and at least the people involved are part of the game. I think that very few if any genuine GAA supporters boo, it is the band wagon supporters that go to games. I have never seen any of the older people that go to games and have done so for many decades boo. I think that kids that go to games need to be educated that this is not the way to behave, that would be a start.

In both cases I think the only response, for players, is to play well and shut up the boo boys and trash talkers, a la Mulligan on Saturday!

Lemlin

Mossie and Dec being two of the quieter lads on the Dublin panel

Don't know about Quinn but Lally is anything but quiet.

The Lopper

The thrash talking thing has always been around, when i used to take frees, they'd say for instance "Your gonna hit that tree in the corner" (with a few f words thrown in for good measure), and i used always reply to them "what'll you give me if i hit the tree? Tenner says i can do it twice"

after that the other player would be just so baffled he wouldn't do it again.

Flukey

It does annoy me too. The best answer is to score the frees, when they are for that. Occasionally it's because of a bad decision or a player in possession having been involved in an earlier incident. Those are a little bit more understandable than the ones for run of the mill frees.

Illkillya

cruiserweight wrote:

Is it just me or has booing of players, in particular free takers, on the increase?

I find this a disgusting habit, these players are amateurs and are making a lot of sacrifices to entertain and delight fans!

It does seem to be on the increase, and it is not a good trend, although in fairness you have to make the odd exception for the likes of John Mullane

River Allow

I must say, I dont like it either, although it does make great banter between suppoters

cougar

I'll be honest, I think the booing can add to the atmosphere and keep the noise level at a deafening roar, however this seems to be spiralling into bigger problems. As other people have noted, there was fireworks thrown at Redmond Barry from the hill during the leinster semi-final.
This is not a one off as there were plenty thrown during the scuffle at the end of the first half of saturdays game. Also another thing I noticed was the number of bottles being fired at Pascal McConnell's while he was attempting to take a kick out. Thankfully there is a net blocking these missiles but I just want to ask since when has this become a part of the modern GAA, I've been attending games in Croke Park for the last 6/7 years and it's the first I've seen.

Mighty_Mouse

trash talking - part of the game. - the unbelievables sketch is hilarious

booing - will decrease dramatically now dubs are out