Football Championship 2026 (Mod Note in OP)

There was so much on TSG . I can’t remember what Quirke said about the David Clifford incidences. Overall he seemed to call a lot of decisions “harsh” by “the letter of the law”.

Clare out of the Tailteann Cup

Would of been expected to do better

The changeover of managers in recent years hasn't helped things. Majority of leaders from Colm Collins era have retired now. Hard to replace quality of them lads.

The coverage switched to show the McGuinness incident as Quirke started talking so naturally he was going to speak on the images shown. You both seem to have left out where he agrees that there wasn't much in it but that the GAA have set a precedent with Brennan which he feels was "very, very harsh". It's obviously a huge talking point given that precedent.

He also stated Burns crossed the line and deserved a red card.

The Clifford incidents where at most two yellow cards. The first was nothing more than a shove and McGonagle takes a dive. The second was a strange one in that it actually looks less dangerous close up and in slow motion but it was late and deserved a yellow.

Nothing being said about Donegal swarming a player 5-6 to 1 and gesturing for a card whenever there's a borderline challenge. This is what lead to the half-time incident kicking off in the first place and it was stunning no Donegal player received a card for escalating the situation.

Anyway, Kerry intended to rattle Donegal today after the league final and Murphy incident but their indiscipline cost them and they ended up getting a hiding themselves.

It’s not petty it’s in rule 5 - ANY physical interference with an opponent by an opposing player or staff member.

Context as you try to imply that the Dubs were “worse” is an irrelevance. I suggest you read the rule. And come back to discuss it when you have a better understanding of it.

For further contrast Diarmuid Connolly got a 12 week suspension for pushing a linesman v Carlow 2017.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2017/0615/883046-connolly-decides-against-continuing-appeal/

Connolly was charged under a different rule 1.2 - in category 5 - Offence

"Minor physical interference with a Referee, Umpire, Linesman or Sideline Official."

Kerry were too pumped up for game and lost their discipline in first half. Kerry defenders trying to roughing up Donegal forwards ignored by Hurson and linesman as well.

3/4 Kerry players made beeline for Murphy in that melee before HT too. Paudie Clifford in the middle of it.

When Kerry have players back will still be the team to beat.

It won’t happen because DCB know fans will miss out on games - 8500 capacity. And I think the DCB are also pressured by the Leinster Council and broader GAA as they know Dublin (despite smaller crowds than in the past) still are a cash cow for the association as a whole .

They didn`t. They were protesting at what he did but none of them touched him. He walked through them with his hands raised in the air as if he had done nothing and a bunch of Kerry players then piled and Burns punched McHugh.

Mod Edit

Warning issued.

Don't think that will play out that way.

A) the level of interference is irrelevant. He could of grazed him with a fingernail or headbutted him. The rule is Rule 5, Category IVa of the GAA rulebook defines an infraction for “misconduct at games by team officials” where “any type of physical interference with an opposing player or team official”. The punishment for that offence is a minimum 12-week ban and a two-match suspension.

"Any type" of interference. So, by the rule he is in trouble.

B) video evidence looked clear cut. I've seen no one from a pundit to players, to Jim himself who have denied he didn't touch him at all.

C) both managers were spoken too. This may work. Hurson and officials may say they didn't see the incident so then it will be reviewed. Depends on the match report. If they say they did see it and Hurson states he dealt with it he can be asked to revisit it, but may stick to he has dealt with it.

All in all. With what went on before I feel there would be a lot more of an issue from the wider GAA community if he doesn't get banned. (Especially Dublin, Kerry I'm sure would have plenty to say) so two of the big power houses in GAA.

Now they may ban him and Donegal appeal and its found that Rule 5A, section II, Subject section 5A II i, paragraph 3, line 4 that states a purple pen must be used and he'll get off as it wasn't adhered too. But at a minimum I feel the GAA have no choice but to ban him.

Fair play to Tommy Rooney for questioning McGuinness about laying hands on a player at halftime. McGuinness has tried to make an example of reporters before in the Alex Ferguson mode so that he will get soft treatment. It took a bit of courage from the reporter to do his job and true to form McGuinness attacked like a cornered rat. I don't know if he deserves a ban or not or if there is actual footage of him putting hands on a player, but he put himself in the position by being where he was and any reporter worth his salt would bring up the incident to him because it was being talked about by everyone. It would be shamefully poor reporting to not bring it up, for fear of being berated by the mighty Jimmy

Does anyone actually laud them as godly pure footballers or is that something that just exists in your head?

I can't get over the chat and so called surprise about Jim dancing a 12 week ban,and ger getting one recently.

This is not a new rule,it's been around for years and for good reason - it's hard enough keep control of 15 v 15 without mentors and supporters piling in. The only surprise is that it was enforced against Brennan which means ifs gonna be hard to let Jim off.

the dirtiest act i can remember seeing by a kerry player in the last decade was Sean O’shea’s kick to a Evan Comerford face after he saved his penalty.

by that time everyone outside Dublin wanted to see Dublin bet so it was put down as accidental 😂

Yeah true enough, and because Dublin were flying it, and had strength in depth the Dubs just got on with it with a shrug of the shoulders.
Back in 2017 also Dublin just got on with it no fuss. After the Carlow linesman push incident v Carlow. Connolly wasn’t even missed, Sam won that year.

Besides the Brennan incident v Galway in the league. The only other example I could find of a manager getting a 12 week suspension under rule 5 for “physical interference” was 2018 when Kevin McStay (Roscommon manager) threw a ball at the referee.

https://www.donegaldaily.com/gaa/roscommon-boss-mcstay-accepts-12-week-ban-after-linesman-incident-288099

It was reported in the Donegal Daily 2018 and all. I love the irony!

If Jim McGuinness doesn’t get the same treatment as Brennan and McStay it will just prove that the GAA disciplinary process is not universally applied consistently.
It could be argued that it largely depends on an individual’s particular profile within the organisation, or what county they are from.