I suppose it is all over now. The whole thing is very sad. There are no winners here. Nobody has covered themselves in glory. As far as I can see the only people to come out of this sorry mess with any kind of credibility are the fans of both counties that didnt get caught up in the hysteria. I have spent the last nine years travelling the length and breadth of Ireland wondering are the fortunes of my county ever going to turn again and I have had some sore disappointments in this time. I cant take any great joy out of Sundays win. Meath were terrible and deserved to be beaten. Any further wins in this championship are now tainted no matter how great the performance.
I think it was total insanity that a replay would ever be consider and worse still that the desicion was left to a group of 20 something year olds who were asked to give away something they have strived for all their lives. Its like asking a lotto winner should they not give their winnings to a deserving charity.

Maradonna (Meath) - Posts: 128 - 14/07/2010 11:24:58    708257

No replay wanted or needed. We just want the win noted and the Cup across the border. GAA coped out on the biggest ref mistake in recent history. It is not up to Meath CB or the team to decide this..terrible putting you in that position. I'm afraid its a more legal route dealing with the Leinster Council head on. This won't die down. The blood is up and we're right for once. You would be sick if you were in our position and be sure you would be out on the field too.

ninjasmyth (Louth) - Posts: 754 - 14/07/2010 12:15:32    708363

I honestly think that meath should of put the whole thing back on Croke Park and let them make the decision... they should of said that if Croke Park direct them whatever decision Croke Park makes meath will honour it.. I feel meath were put in a very awkward position by everyone and no matter what there decision was people wouldnt of been happy and to redirect the whole fiasco back to Croke park would of maybe made Croke Park think about what happened....

At the end of this whole thing neither team wanted a replay and i would just like to wish Louth All the best in the qualifiers and meath all the best in the quarter finals...

LouthGAA (Louth) - Posts: 18 - 14/07/2010 12:15:49    708365

here here louthgaa. the fiasco is over please god. personalyy i would be not surprised to see louth in a semi never mind the quarters. Heres one hoping meath can get on with things and improve and also to see louth supporters get a few results to enjoy

10theyear (Meath) - Posts: 58 - 14/07/2010 12:43:10    708433

There are gonna be a lot of repercussions from this decision by the Meath County Board -

Whatever chance Martin Sludden had of resurrecting his refereeing career had, he has virtually none now. I realise that there probably isn't much sympathy for him but he made an honest mistake and is human.

There is gonna be a lot of bad blood between the counties which will no doubt spill over into something ugly either on or off the pitch in future.

This could easily put Louth football back ten years.

Meath will not get any support from nuetrals for a long while ( I'm sure they're not particularly bothered either). I also think that its gonna be hard for them in the rest of the Championship from a mental point of view.

I agree with the point that the Meath County Board are making that they were put under unneccessary pressure but to offer a replay would not be unprecedented and the nature of the incident on the pitch has never been seen in such a high profile match ever. However the GAA must not get its act togeher to ensure that this debacle does not happen again.

Overall I think natural justice was not done in this case and it is disappointing day for the GAA overall.

Col (Dublin) - Posts: 7 - 14/07/2010 13:35:16    708557

Well we had the chance , we turned it down .

Anything that goes wrong for the county teams for the rest of the year will be Karma.

I am disappointed by the fact we didnt do the right thing.

What i have realised from this is that cheating sometimes wins.

I hang my head in shame for our county not offering the replay.

Thats the end of the matter .

Ball busted time to head home.

Appleman (Meath) - Posts: 54 - 14/07/2010 13:42:39    708582

At the end of the day what this highlights is that, as a country, we don't have a problem with cheating so long as we're not caught. So it was all pious rubbish we spouted after the T Henry goal when we called on the French Socccer authorities to replay the game.

At the first test we fell ourselves.

Maybe that's what has the country the way it is................

WhatADay (USA) - Posts: 4 - 14/07/2010 14:03:40    708657

THIS GAME SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLAYED. WHAT GOOD IS A LEINSTER MEDAL TO A PLAYER WITH SUCH A STIGMA ATTACHED TO IT. MEATH SHOULD HAVE OFFERED A REPLAY BUT THEN AGAIN THEY ARE ALSO VICTIMS OF GAA INCOMPETENCE.

ruff1106 (Kildare) - Posts: 175 - 14/07/2010 14:41:27    708773

Weds 14th July - No replay being given!!! Louth county board as far as i can see have STILL not issued a statement apologising for the childish and disgraceful carry on their fans and some players.

During the match, meath players were booed by the crowd when taking frees
During the match a louth player kicked the ball AWAY from meath players when it was a meath free (TWICE), immature or what...
Meath players tried to shake hands with the louth players at the end and were given punches in return...
Sean Boylan ex meath manager attacked in the stands by louth fans.....
The horrific attack on the ref at the end...
Bottles been thrown from the crowd....etc etc!!

Maybe if Louth showed a bit of sportsmanship themselves from the offset the meath players would be more willing to give them their replay!!!

I think its time they stopped crying over it and got on with it!! and maybe apologised for their ridiculous antics instead of being REWARDED with a replay!! 8 people died in donegal the same day.. it puts things into perspective.

royalz88 (Meath) - Posts: 3 - 14/07/2010 15:06:13    708846

Very true Royalz88. Very sad. By the way did anyone hear who won the World Cup, or is it over yet?

Alias (Tipperary) - Posts: 463 - 14/07/2010 15:38:46    708942

lads time to give up trying to justify what happened by commenting about every thing else in the game. if nothing had happened in the game france( sorry meath) fans and the county board would still have hidden behind the refs report and not wanted to offer reply. what happened happened but yous are still making idiots of yourselfs with excuses on wedensday. louth moved on sunday night and are preparing for the next round.. as i said what happened happened move on and stop making your county look any worse than the country already thinks of you. your doing yourselfs no favours. best of luck in later rounds ..you will need you have gave tons of ammunition for other fans to throw at you.

drogheda20 (Louth) - Posts: 405 - 14/07/2010 15:39:08    708943

Royalz88, I agree that there should be no replay. It just isnt feasible, unless we are going to replay all games that are decided by controversial decisions.
But your point about meath players being booed ?? Think back 2 years to Carlow. Wexford players weren't just booed, they were spat on, by Meath "fans" behind the town-end goal.

The proverb about glass houses and stones comes to mind.................

yellabelly (Wexford) - Posts: 1062 - 14/07/2010 15:51:24    708987

Yellabelly, I am not trying to defend the so-called "fans" that day in Carlow that was a terrible thing for them to do, especially as it was Meath who threw that game away but the Meath players were spat at by the Louth players during and after the game on Sunday. I have contacts on that team and they said they never experienced anything like it before! Also Louth fans in Ardee vandalised every MH car parked on the street - and they probably belonged mostly to Louth supporters! There was damage done everywhere, you wouldn't see it on the Falls Road!!! It wouldn't be expected from the Dubs (and we know what they're like) at least they would accept it and you would hear nothing more of it the next day! I would have been all up for a replay but they don't deserve it!

Jumunji (Meath) - Posts: 16 - 14/07/2010 16:22:20    709048

I'm sorry Drogheda20 but you're typing somethings that aren't true.

This constant comparison of Meath & France is bordering on ridiculous. Also saying that Louth have moved on from Sunday night is a lie, JP Rooney was the first player to make comments publicly about moving on and that was only late last night, the county board are still apparantly seeking advice about possible courses of action, so please stop the flippent remarks.

I don't feel a replay should have been offered, firstly it opens the door up for future replay requests and it certainly isn't or shouldn't have ever been up to Meath GAA to do so for an officials error. Similar offers have been made in the past by Boards of Clubs (Lucan Sarsfields vs Moorefield) for a replay and been later turned down by the CCCC, but lets not let that get in the way of a good rant.

Some of the actions of the Louth fans was very disappointing, I was at the game and I must say the atmosphere from Louth fans in the Hogan was quite hostile indeed, but anyway that's bound to happen when 25,000 'fans' suddenly pop out of the woodwork for a game where Louth would usually be fortunate to get 3,000. I'm sure true Louth fans were disappointed by alot of the actions.

Hopefully the teams can move on in the championship and Louth can get a win under their belt to help forget the unfortunate incidents on Sunday, I just hope the unneccessary Meath bashing stops in the media!

Tobealily (Kildare) - Posts: 125 - 14/07/2010 16:29:24    709062

meath should be ashamed with their decison ye are never gona live it down ye are now known as cowards across the country if a replay isnt given

jack94 (Westmeath) - Posts: 8 - 14/07/2010 16:52:00    709125

As i said before, cowards and cheats, they cheated in the game but it was only one player and the rest were given a chance to put it right but voted against it making them all cheats. Trying to make up reasons why they wouldn't replay is a little embarrasing really.

Louth Gael (Louth) - Posts: 1227 - 14/07/2010 17:04:42    709153

The thing about it is I don't honestly think the team and supporters will care no matter how much it's thrown at them because it was their decision and we will all stand by them. I honestly doubt they care whether other counties supporters like them or agree with them or not.

itsgreenandgold (Meath) - Posts: 312 - 14/07/2010 17:11:35    709170

totally agree with the westmeath lad!

Ye are absolute unmanly cowards not to offer a replay!
Cannot believe the depths ye have stooped to, in order to win a Delaney cup by default!....and be proud of it!!.....Shame on ye!....Ye have absolutely no sense of righteousness and manly honesty about ye!
If yer players were men they would throw their medals into the Boyne!....even yer manager looked like he had seen a ghost when ye lifted the cup!....is that what ye call a delighted manager these days?.....shame on ye!.....no backbone!

There are no men left in the county meath anymore, only unmanly cowards!......shame shame shame on ye!......and I wont ever let ye forget it boys!!!!

Regards,

Snufalufagus....Laochra Gael

Snufalufagus (Dublin) - Posts: 8100 - 14/07/2010 17:14:01    709178

i think the meath players were totally right not to offer a replay why should we??? it wasnt our decision to make but yet we were still made to and now we have the whole country on our backs calling us cheats and the france ofg the gaa world loada bull if you ask me!!!

the louth county chairman clearly stated that had the shoe been on the other foot louth would have taken the goal and i honestly believe louth wouldnt have offered a replay no matter what any of you say. you can say our 21st leinster title is tainted but we still have it and end of and i for one is very proud with how our players and management team held themselves after the game and the days proceeding it.

and to say louth moved on sunday night yeah right then why are you talking about taking legal action????

m11 (Meath) - Posts: 61 - 14/07/2010 17:21:09    709198

In 2004 when Westmeath beat offaly there was a point that never was,and westmeath won this game no replay given there Jack94 really should know your history before you start going on about Meath... Louthgael get over it should never been down to Meath in the first place even when one of your top players says the dont want a replay http://www.hoganstand.com/ArticleForm.aspx?ID=132080. yeah its a shame the way it ended but thats sport and it says in the ref report it would have been a penalty if he hadnt given the goal!

jokerofthelane (Meath) - Posts: 48 - 14/07/2010 17:25:07    709206