GAA left with egg on its face, again!
by Dan O'Neill
The GAA was left with egg on its face again with another major controversy
overshadowing a championship game at the weekend.
Only a fortnight after the furore surrounding referee Niall Barrett's
handling of the Carlow/Westmeath match, in which he sent off six players
and booked 14 others, Kerry's victory over Tipperary in the Munster
Football Championship was undermined by the awarding of a first-half goal
which television evidence clearly shown had gone wide.
Tipperary went into the dressing room at half-time considering pulling out
of the tie in disgust at the official's decision to allow the goal to
stand. There has since been calls for the tie to be replayed. Dèja-vu?
This will another massive headache for the GAA, who decided against
refixturing the Carlow/Westmeath game destroyed by the GAA's `Operation
Crackpot', or sorry `Operation Crackdown' on indiscipline in the game. I
think the GAA should be looking more at `zero tolerance' of bad officiating
at games. If the events of the past couple of weeks have proved anything,
it's that there is a desperate need for better refereeing and officials at
games. Umpires should be wired up as in many other sports and what is wrong
with using video evidence at the big games that are being filmed? It would
surely have prevented the injustice done to Tipperary at the weekend. The
GAA hierarchy has also to take responsibility for changing the rules so
many times, which have left some referees confused. Take for example the
new red and yellow cards in use at the moment. Niall Barrett hasn't been
the only one flashing them like nobody's business. I have been to a couple
of club championship games in the past couple of weeks and the story has
been the same. The GAA has to get its act together. It should be explained
to referees that players should be allowed to get `stuck-in' fairly in
championship matches without fear of being booked or sent off!
This week's fixtures
Limerick vs Waterford (Pairc Uí Chaoimh)
This weekend, there is plenty of action in the football and hurling
championships. The pick of the bunch is the clash of Waterford and Limerick
in the Munster hurling championship. People are saying that this Limerick
side are finished, but there is still plenty of kick in them yet. With Gary
Kirby back after a winter break and with Ciaran Carey playing (he's still
one of the best hurlers in the country), I fancy Limerick to beat a
Waterford side under pressure to deliver after last year's heroics.
Dublin vs Wexford (Nowlan Park)
The Dubs are very short in match-winning players for this Leinster hurling
championship encounter. The loss of Eamonn Morrissey and Jamesie Brennan,
who returned home to Kilkenny clubs at the start of the year, is massive.
Wexford will have Liam Dunne, Gary Laffan and Rod Guiney back from injury
and should make the semis.
Mayo vs London (Castlebar)
Mayo kick-start the Connacht football championship with a game against the
unfancied London. This London side has been training hard since Christmas
and are made of mostly of players from Mayo and Donegal, but they do have
two American-born players in their side. But keeping a respectable
scoreline will be their priority against the All-Ireland finalists of
1996/97.
Roscommon vs Leitrim (Carrick-on-Shannon)
I fancy Roscommon to do well in this year's Connacht championship. They
have a strong spine in Don Connellan and Derek Duggan. Gay Sheerin's side
should go through easily against a Leitrim side who have struggled all year
with a dismal league campaign which culminated in Peter McGinity's
resignation.
Monaghan vs Fermanagh (Clones)
Fermanagh won promotion this year from football's 2B, conceding only one
defeat. With Brewster inspirational in midfield and Shane King and Raymond
Gallagher excellent in attack, Fermanagh have a lot to offer the Ulster
football championship. But they face a tricky opener against Monaghan. They
have their own free-scoring forwards in Stephen McGinnity and Peter Duffy.
A close contest and don't be surprised with a draw.
Celtic prepare for Scottish Cup final.
Celtic brought their league programme to a close with a 2-1 win over Dundee
United at Tannidice on Sunday.
All attention will now be focused on Saturday's Cup Final against Rangers.
This a mammoth game for Celtic. There is no doubt that the league
championship is the `big one' but a cup success will offer some consolation
to Celtic after conceding the league to their arch enemies on home turf. No
doubt the Celtic players will be highly motivated for this one after their
below-par performance in that infamous game.
The bad news for the Bhoys is that influential midfielder Craig Burley
looks set to miss the game after being stretchered off with suspected
cartilage damage in Sunday's win. On a more positive note, gifted Slovakian
Lubomir Moravcik made an inspirational comeback from injury at the weekend
and should be in contention for a cup final place. He almost
single-handedly destroyed Rangers in November's 5-1 triumph. More of the
same please!
Celtic boss Joe Venglos has a nice headache ahead of Saturday's big game.
With Mark Viduka out through injury, the big question is who will partner
Henrik Larsson up front. Teenage sensation, Mark Burchill staked his claim
with two goals on Sunday at Dundee United, but he will face stiff
opposition from Tommy Johnson, who has scored three goals since his
comeback from long-term injury only three weeks ago. I wonder if Cork
teenager Colin Healy will make the first 14. He has been impressive since
making his debut against Rangers at the start of the month.
Hopefully, the Celts can salvage something from a season in which they have
played better football than they did in last year's championship win.
Referee Hugh Dallas will be officiating the game despite his antics on 2
May. Let's hope he has a better game too!
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