National Football League Discussion

I just saw the row there again on TG4 and in fairness to Gough it wasn't a "Feck this, they're all off" job. He kept a very close eye on the row as it progressed, consulted all of his officials, and took his time making his decisions. And as you have highlighted, I would say most of those reds were for this body-slam that has recently appeared in the game. Something fairly innocuous at first glance - these are very well trained, strong men - but one day it might result in a serious neck injury and then it will be taken seriously.

Like rugby, where there are so many camera angles you dare not strike with a closed fist, players in the GAA now know that so long as they don't punch anyone they run a very low risk of getting the line. So, as is the case in rugby, players have come up with new and imaginative ways to goad the opposition. I won't describe them. We all know what they are.

There'll be the usual chatter and bluster about this game in the days ahead and you'll probably hear the the age old "Ah, this isn't soccer we're playing!" and "Sure there wasn't a decent punch thrown in the whole thing!" as if that makes these melees acceptable.

Exactly no strike, because players know they will be caught on camera and done. If lads thought they were in danger of getting a box they wouldn't be as quick to enter these pathetic looking pulling and dragging matches. You would be in more danger of getting a box coming out of the parish hall after bingo than in one of these unsightly capers.

To me it was the behaviour of the players that was pathetic not the refereeing. I'm sick of this sort of sh*te in both football and maybe slightly lesser extent in hurling. Is this what we want our kids to emulate. If yellow and if necessary red cards were handed out quicker for any hint of this sort of stuff players might think twice before acting the boll*x. And never mind the tv analysts complaining that "the sending off ruined the game as a spectacle."

Referee should be suspended.

Saw in the Twitter clip above one of the Armagh fellas in pain after getting thrown again the concrete kerb. It was only his back though - best to leave it until a fella gets the skull cracked open

About time all this boll!x acting was cracked down on.

How supposed adults can act like that and yet it’s the referee getting all the grief on social media never ceases to amaze me.

The problem is you'll see the red cards in a February league game. People will scream and shout about the unfairness of it all and come the Championship little will have changed. The GAA could stamp this out with refereeing like we saw today, but the question is will they follow through. The black card, after plenty of resistance, is now a very decent disciplinary tool at the refs' disposal which has rid the game of a lot of cynical behaviour. They could do the same with these dumb melees, but they need to ignore those who will be shouting loudest tomorrow morning.

As an aside, no coverage of Roscommon v Meath on the TV over the weekend, let alone of any D3 or 4 games.

Doesn't auger well for the exposure to be given for the Tailtean Cup later in the year. Even club games have minimal camera coverage nowadays, they're cheap as chips to do.

I was thinking about this yesterday the problem is the Sunday Game as way too much to cover, and rattles through everything at top speed on weekends like last weekend.

Personally I would like to see a Hurling Sunday Game type show and a Football Sunday Game type show. Make one optional on the player on alternate weekends so no one can complain. If I was a follower of a Div3/Div4 football county I would have been particularly annoyed. And I sympathise because plenty of times the Dublin hurlers would be lucky to get 2 or 3 minutes of highlights. Unless they are playing one of the 'traditional counties'.

Sligo gave an exhibition of point kicking in the 2nd half in Markievicz yesterday with both Sean Carrabine and Niall Murphy kicking some absolute belters. It was a pity not to show off some great talent in what were really tough conditions. The rest of the country also missed the Sligo debut of Pat Spillane: looks like a good addition and kicked 2 points!

Sligo have so much potential. So many incredibly talented young players coming through next few years there. Definitely shouldn't be anywhere near Division 4. Once Red Óg Murphy becomes a regular in that side, Sligo will be major threat to many teams.

Niall Murphy for me is already one of the best forwards in Connacht.

Unfortunately, Red Óg's not playing with Sligo at the moment by choice. Saw his oul lad at the game yesterday so maybe he might return.