Sean O Domhnaill says discrimination against Irish speaking GAA players has been happening for years.

The 1998 and 2001 All-Ireland winning midfielder was reacting to the news that the Galway county board has received official complaints from Na Piarsaigh/Ros Muc GAA club in Connemara in relation to comments allegedly made by a referee during a JFC West match against Salthill/Knocknacarra in Ros an Mhil last Saturday.

While agreeing that such abuse has no place in the GAA, O Domhnaill recalls how he and his An Chearthu Rua club-mate Sean Og de Paor used their native tongue to their advantage during their Galway careers.

"I could finger half the county out," he said in the Connacht Tribune.

"Yeah, we were told to stop speaking Irish and go back to Connemara and all that. But I used to tell them I'd no problem speaking the Queen's language.

"It shouldn't happen. We've the biggest Gaeltacht in the country. Nearly half the teams in Galway are in Connemara. But it has, does and will happen. That's sport."

He added: "It gave us an advantage. Anything that gives you an edge is a good thing. There are things I'd be able to say, talk about tactics, and the opposition wouldn't know what we were saying.  Of course they're going to tell you to shut up - but when they're doing that you know you're winning.

"You have them."

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