I saw this on the site and reckon it could be the end of hard men and rightly so. Obviously a low profile game and player or else it would be all we are hering about at the moment - are we soon to see the day when an intercounty wallop ends up in court. It is happening in other sports.

Club player jailed over match assault
09 November 2008
A Tipperary club hurler has become the first GAA player to be jailed for an incident which took place on the field of play after an assault left an opponent requiring reconstructive surgery on a bitten ear.
The incident occurred during a Tipperary intermediate league match in June 2006 with the case being heard in Clonmel Circuit Count last month. A Fethard player was sentenced to 12-months imprisonment with the final nine months suspended, and the 30-year old married father of two is currently serving his sentence in Limerick Prison.
An Eire Og player had part of his ear bitten off and the offender received a 96 week suspension from the GAA.
The player claimed he acted in self defence after he was trapped on the ground but Judge Donagh McDonagh handed down a custodial sentence.
GAA National Hurling Co-ordinator Paudi Butler acted as a character witness for the accused and told the Sunday Tribune that the verdict 'had sent shockwaves through the organisation'.

Roger (Meath) - Posts: 481 - 10/11/2008 17:14:57    137808

I reckon what happens on a field of play should stay on it .Things get out of hand sometimes and once county boards etc deal with it that should be end of it

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 10/11/2008 17:25:34    137816

There is no place for this kind of behaviour on or off the pitch. I'm sure Paudie is not defending this mans actions. I wonder why this persons identity is being protected?

culawan (Dublin) - Posts: 129 - 10/11/2008 17:39:11    137835

I AGREE it should not but everytime something happens on a pitch is it run to the courts that would destroy the gaa . Take it like men and move on after game is over suspend the player involved but dragging and crying to the courts are stupid

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 10/11/2008 17:46:15    137843

I got plenty of digs playing hurling and football without complaint but I would not tolerate anyone biting me. While it is a natural reaction to lash out with a hand or even a foot it is pure savagry to bite someone. Where would it end if we tolerate this.

culawan (Dublin) - Posts: 129 - 10/11/2008 18:11:24    137864

I suspect if someone bit my ear off I may be tempted to go to court. Maybe I am a wimp.

patrique (Antrim) - Posts: 13709 - 10/11/2008 18:33:59    137892

DELLBOYPOLECAT: there is a big difference between some fella getting sent off for a high tackle and going and getting an injunction (as Rory O'Connell from westmeath did) and this. The former situation shouldnt make it as far as the courts but this is different.

The fella bit off another persons ear. A GAA county board is not a court of law. Being on the GAA field is not license to do what you feel like.

wingwonder (UK) - Posts: 535 - 10/11/2008 18:38:22    137897

10/11/2008 17:46:15
DELLBOYPOLECAT
County: Tyrone
Posts: 503

I AGREE it should not but everytime something happens on a pitch is it run to the courts that would destroy the gaa . Take it like men and move on after game is over suspend the player involved but dragging and crying to the courts are stupid

HE BIT HIS EAR FFS! The term "hard-man" should never be applied to someone who would stoop to this level. I agree with the sentiment of "take it like men" but that is fine for hard and tough play with a few honest digs thrown it. Not that kind of scumbag behaviour.

RMDrive (Donegal) - Posts: 2202 - 10/11/2008 19:00:16    137916

I'm all for what "happens on the field stays on the field", but there has to be a line drawn somewhere. Whatever about a punch in the heat of battle, but this guy bit another players ear off!!! Players can't walk onto a pitch and think they are above the law.

Con (Louth) - Posts: 511 - 10/11/2008 19:06:42    137925

Dellboy, come on now he bit parts of his ear off not hit him with a hurl or his fist, This is more akin to the old rugby day's.

Diego (Meath) - Posts: 1210 - 10/11/2008 19:30:34    137937

i no but theres a big difference in getting a loada smacks and gettin part of your ear bitten off. Id rather get an absolute beatin than for that to happen.

glenn_abu (Down) - Posts: 515 - 10/11/2008 20:07:47    137971

DELLBOYPOLECAT
County: Tyrone
Posts: 503

I'm sure if it happened to you, you would not be saying this but then again---.
No place for this kind of stuff in any game.
I've not been a saint on the pitch in my day I've broken a guys jaw in two place and to be honest I felt terrible after it. I convinced myself that he deserved it because he jumped on my leg while I was lying on the ground and then told me he was going to hammer me while I was getting up (this was for no reason at all). Saying that he didn't break my leg even if he tried and what I did to him was totally wrong even if I had warned him. It didn't make me feel any better though knowing that I had basically ruined his life for 4 or 5 months. When you do things like this to people they have to live with the consequences after. I don't see a place for this in our games, we don't get paid to get our ears bitten off or our jaws broken. We all have to get on with our lives after a game. A friend of mine also got a kick where it hurts most during a game, needless to say he hasn't had kids.

Nick (Wexford) - Posts: 1100 - 10/11/2008 20:36:14    137992

Look lads all I am saying is things that happen on the pitch should stay on it .What is the difference of breaking a mans jaw than biting, well no difference nick . So you nick should you go to jail for that. Everyone that bites someone, breaks jaws, breaks noses, and stamps should go to jail. It would wreck the gaa.

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 10/11/2008 21:19:52    138035

I have to say that if a team mate of mine did this to an opponent I wouldn't like to line out on the same team as him again.

JayoCluxton (Dublin) - Posts: 2688 - 10/11/2008 21:26:20    138039

what is unacceptable on the Main Street should be unacceptable on the football field ! Why should our sports fields be used for thuggery ? It is not that long ago since the country was up in arms over the way the Australians treated our players so why should our players be allowed to assault each other ? If they want to beat the crap out of each other why dont they join a boxing club ? We should not have to expose our children to violence at football / hurling events. people who make excuses for thugs are as bad as them!!

Cavan_Slasher (Cavan) - Posts: 10253 - 10/11/2008 21:43:33    138061

Maybe if I had been made an example of at the time it would have saved a few people having their jaws broken. See if you can condone that on the pitch I think you are the kind of person who would condone it off the pitch no matter how you try and defend yourself. Bottom line is you are harming another human being (intentionally) and you don't know the knock on effects to them their families etc.. May sound very dramatic but it is not as overblown as it may sound I would have thought that somebody from the North who has grown up in a difficult environment over the years, revenge attackes and tit-4-tat and all that would understand but maybe seeing this makes you blind to it or immune to the consequences or maybe they just become a normal part of your life and it's no big deal.

Nick (Wexford) - Posts: 1100 - 10/11/2008 22:16:20    138093

NICK look all i am saying it should be dealt by the county board no one else am not saying it is right because it is wrong.And cavan slasher did any of the auusies get jailed the tackle on gg and the one on jordan could have broken there necks what is worse .And finally i am not saying it was right for instance the dromore manager headbutted someone few weeks back that is assualt as well so thats you cant have it both ways if so they would be alot of players jailed assualt is assualt no matter what way you do it ..

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 10/11/2008 22:51:23    138130

I think the biting was what made it so bad ... and got all the right thinking people up in arms and onto their high horses.

I dont know if the GAA has much willingness to deal with it. I mean its a good while since John Finn got his jaw broken in front of 60000 in Croke Park and no one has seen anything yet !!!!!!

BIG SACKS (Tyrone) - Posts: 1681 - 11/11/2008 00:08:52    138175

dellboy - wise up lad - and that's from one of your own

for years we've been spoon fed that the GAA was a man's game, for example the TV infatuation with Kerry v Dublin finals (men left unconsious etc.) And by the way, I'm not having a dig at any of the aforementioned counties, just stating facts!
It's one thing being a man, it's another thing disfiguring somebody.

GAA is based on sport. It's about going out, being a boy/man/woman and acting that role to the best of your ability.
The GAA always was, is, and, hopefully, always will be, something to be proud of.

Biting part of a man's ear off isn't something that anyone should be proud of, or that anyone should condone.
It's the sort of thing you would have to resort to when outnumbered by a number of guys, with similar intentions, in an alley, with no other way out.

A few questions spring to mind:
1: Was there a referee? Presumably so, since the game proceeded.
2: Was the referee compos mentis? Again, presumably so, since he was available to submit a report to the County Council.

If so, the player should have been suitably protected by the referee, and have no requirement to act in this way.

Have you ever had a piece of your ear bitten off?

Yes, its one thing to get a bruise out of a game.
It's totally different to come out with permanent disfigurement.

I hung up the boots after deliberately connecting with one of my own club's u16's with an elbow during a challenge match.
The fact that he hasssled me continually was not an excuse - I knew my own fitness levels were affecting how I played the game. I wasn't fit to keep on top of him, so, I used my size to hurt him - not acceptable!

Gaelic Games are that - games.
This win at all cost attitude is not acceptable.

It is illegal to strike / bite someone on the field of play under our own GAA rules.
It is also illegal to strike / bite someone in the street.

Why shouldn't the same rules apply????

tyghan_exile (Tyrone) - Posts: 20 - 11/11/2008 00:23:07    138179

"what happens on the pitch should stay on it".This is mostly true but in this instance what a stupid remark to make.If fellas were going to court over a black eye or bruised ribs,that would ruin the game.When a guy has his jaw smashed by a cowards punch or HAS HIS EAR BITTEN OFF,then he has every right to take this guy to court.

kimbap (Mayo) - Posts: 81 - 11/11/2008 02:35:24    138196