Some people can't control themselves, no matter where they are. They shouldn't be looking at sport - or anything competitive for that matter. These are the sort of eejits that vote whatever way their family has for eons (tradition and that crap). As soon as the final whistle blows - everyone should just move along. Less forgiveable is the Media brushing problems under carpet or dealing with them in an inconsistent manner. Hill16 is the only area worthy of a fence in the entire GAA - says it all really.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4898 - 04/09/2014 10:04:40    1647798

The gaa doesn't bring the worst out of anyone, parishes competing against parishes county against county all good natured, even the most bitter rivalries all forgotten at the end of the long whistle. The issue is one which people don't like to admit to, most of these incidents are not cause by the passions roused by sport they're caused by the lowering of the inhibitions caused by drink. There was a story on here the other week regarding the tipp vs cork rivalry (I think) and one instance where tipp nearly didn't get off the field as the cork crowd turned on them, not because of any tribal rivalry but because they were loaded, they mentioned ring had to step in threatening to beat around him like a lunatic, so the crowd coming onto the field is nothing new.

Its something which has been discussed endlessly but the liquoring up before heading to the terraces / pub / club is more than likely the cause of these unsavoury instances and I'm sure the lad from Mayo who tried to accost the ref on Saturday wasn't thinking how he'd broken the pledge in supermacs that night.

Tribalism is fine, passion and rivalry are great, getting smashed and acting the eejit less so and these are the instances which are being highlighted more and more.

duckula20 (Antrim) - Posts: 175 - 04/09/2014 10:11:09    1647803

The GAA brings out the best in the vast majority of people. From the man who lines the pitch to the wife who washes the jerseys. All for the love of the game, family and community. Unsavory incidents are in the minority by in large when you consider the probably thousands of games that take place every week from an u-12's match on Achill Island on a Tuesday night to an All Ireland final on Sunday in Croke Park.

yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 11236 - 04/09/2014 10:14:48    1647806

GAA doesn't bring out the worst in us.

For some, unfortunately, GAA plus drink plus bravado plus a few bucks egging someone on brings out the worst in us. But take GAA out of that line and it's not pleasant either.

GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7364 - 04/09/2014 14:20:19    1647927

Having attended soccer games in the UK in the past I can state that any problems faced by the GAA are minimal in comparison. My own experience with rowdy trouble makers under the influence at games, has been that their behaviour has been regulated by their fellow supporters. I had occasion to advise a couple of Kildare lads in my company to calm down at matches a few times, and I have witnessed similar instances with Meath, Down and Dublin supporters controlling a few lads who were the worse for wear. All in all attending Gaelic games is still a family friendly occasion, maintained by the good sporting nature of the players and supporters.

bryanadams (Kildare) - Posts: 733 - 04/09/2014 14:49:29    1647942

was quare funny watchin five scrawny stewards strucgglin to control that beast of a mayo man in fairness.

Horse (Laois) - Posts: 1146 - 04/09/2014 15:20:17    1647961

was a programme on BBC 3 on football hooliganism last night and it feature Bohs v Rovers!

Rosineri1 (UK) - Posts: 2099 - 04/09/2014 15:37:44    1647974

Generally it brings out the best in people but more needs to be done to control the gobs----s from every county who feel because they have paid a few quid to watch the game that this entitles them to abuse officials and players including their own. We all have a pop now and then but some keep it up the whole game. We could do without the booing before frees as-well especially of minors.

lillyboy (Kildare) - Posts: 429 - 04/09/2014 15:54:14    1647985

These acts of hooliganism are happening all over the country in the GAA and are not getting reported ,in Carlow we have had 2 instances lately one at the recent championship match with Carlow and Waterford where a carlow supporter attacked a waterofrd supporter oon the terraces , all swept under the carpet .

tinrylandman (Carlow) - Posts: 387 - 04/09/2014 19:02:42    1648100

Does the GAA bring out the worse in us? Yes and No. If you look at what happens at any GAA match whether its underage or adult level majority of problems revolve around the referees and bad decisions. Refs and all managers need to take courses to improve their game, refs need to get their decisions right and use their linesmen and umpires, managers need to have a gameplan that doesn't break a foul rule and need to instill respect to refs from his team. If refs make proper decisions and let the game flow without losing control of the game then you will get respect from the players and eventually from fans. As it currently stands there is no respect for refs from anybody and they only have themselves to belame. Time the GAA fixed this problem

riverboys (Mayo) - Posts: 1389 - 05/09/2014 09:05:46    1648234

As said I think it brings out the best and the worst in us.
I think generally the worst comes out in fans during and after a game and 99% its only general slagging of opposing teams.
The lunatic from Mayo is only the 1%.
I think for players, once your inside the white lines its win at all costs which is good and bad, but once the final whistle goes they shake hands and move on, some will even have a pint together.

The best in us by far is greater than the worst, if a tragedy occurs or anything like that, you can be guarenteed that the GAA community will rally around, no matter what club / county they're from.

Joe_Bloggs (Tipperary) - Posts: 186 - 05/09/2014 09:35:47    1648253

Considering the huge amount of people going to games there us very little nastiness. Last week Croke Park was full of Donegal and Dublin supporters and there were no gangs from either side roaming the streets attacking one another. Rovers get around 1,000 a game and it takes 200 cops to prevent serious violence!

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 05/09/2014 10:05:17    1648272

Society issues have no borders , crossing into sport should not surprise us , racisim , thuggery , you name it will unfortunately occasionally get through the cracks , however Id be of the opinion that our game by and large brings out the best in all of us , to be able to stand toe to toe on the pitch in the stand and shake that hand and mean it is no bad feat .
Against Donegal in the stands out of frustration a few expletives were exchanged between myself and a few rivals , however the shake of the hand firm and eyeball to eyeball well done and best of luck and suddenly all is well .
From the nursery being run in every club on a Saturday morning to the pot bellied lads still fighting off father time in the junior leagues to the kid everyone is talking about in the club " hes places gonnabe a star "
I do get quite angry when the negatives get the air that they get , theres not enough done to point out the positives in our game , the greatness that most on here know is there

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 05/09/2014 10:21:02    1648279

These boards can bring out the worst in us? Anyone else get a bit angry and carried away at times.

smellymullane (Antrim) - Posts: 20 - 05/09/2014 10:39:28    1648290

smellymullane
County: Antrim
Posts: 17

1648290 These boards can bring out the worst in us? Anyone else get a bit angry and carried away at times

Have often posted something I regretted later , more so when I came onto forum first .

Damothedub (Dublin) - Posts: 5193 - 05/09/2014 10:55:01    1648297

We get a lot of anti GAA comments and bitterness here in Donegal as well,I don't mind rivalry between opposing teams and supporters,in all my years at GAA matches we've always shaken hands with the opposing team or fans and there has never been a problem.
The soccer fans have to be separated,yet they they accuse the 'gah' of being a thugs game. they go around in their celtic or various english soccer club jersies,and then whine about their neighbours jumping on the 'bandwagon' because Donegal are doing well?yet they travel to Britain occasionaly when 'their' team is in a big match.
what they are to my mind is bitter and jealous and no small amount of begrudgery either.

TirChonaillabu2 (Donegal) - Posts: 344 - 05/09/2014 11:49:20    1648328

I think Brolly more or less instigated "brand Ulster" and turned off a lot of people - triumphing every Ulster win as if it were his own county, lauding what was fairly dour stuff some of the time. Nearly everyone I know was delighted for Down, Derry, Armagh, Tyrone, Donegal when they made the breakthrough. I recall cheering for Derry in 1993, being given out to by a Corkman, on the basis that I was going against my province. Maybe we got a bit tired of seeing Tyrone, or listening to "Geezer" or other oh-so-serious types, you'd wonder if they got any enjoyment out of it at all the way some of them go on. I have hear second hand reports of antagonism towards "free staters", but you're probably taking about the eejit contingent.

So I dont think province counts for anything outside of Ulster, I wouldnt cheer for anyone from Munster "just" because they're Munster, maybe the fact that Ulster supporters band together give it a "them and us" edge.

Overall GAA is THE best thing about this country. I like most sports, I might not be of soccer or rugby stock but I can appreciate them, and I think it takes a particularly small mind to be dedicated to baiting another sport.

Interloper (Limerick) - Posts: 221 - 05/09/2014 13:10:55    1648391

05/09/2014 09:05:46 riverboys
Does the GAA bring out the worse in us? Yes and No. If you look at what happens at any GAA match whether its underage or adult level majority of problems revolve around the referees and bad decisions. Refs and all managers need to take courses to improve their game, refs need to get their decisions right and use their linesmen and umpires, managers need to have a gameplan that doesn't break a foul rule and need to instill respect to refs from his team. If refs make proper decisions and let the game flow without losing control of the game then you will get respect from the players and eventually from fans. As it currently stands there is no respect for refs from anybody and they only have themselves to belame. Time the GAA fixed this problem Referee's always are(or should be) taking courses on improving their game.
In the GAA do referee's have to attend monthly/weekly meetings on developing themselves?
In rugby we referees have to attend a monthly meeting where a top professional/former pro rugby referee will go through different aspects of rugbys laws and we discuss issues that come up in games, using video evidence from pro games as discussion points.
Its impossible for referees to have every single decision right. There will be mistakes from officals as that's human nature.
There should be basic respect for referees regardless of their decision making. Referees don't have only themselves to blame for the treatment they get

ormondbannerman (Clare) - Posts: 13473 - 05/09/2014 13:48:40    1648407