Freeman got what he deserved.
Hanratty and Gillis should have been suspended as well.
Woods should have got the same as Doherty.
Clerkin should have got the same as Doherty.
Barry McGoldrick's head action wasn't that much different than Freeman's (can't remember the Monaghan player in that incident).
Mullan, well, his action was a disgrace but until they stick a rule in giving a 16 to 32 week suspension for deliberate contact with the privates then you're going to end up with this kind of inadequete suspension.

Doherty should be stripped of the captaincy as he showed a lack of judgement.
In fact, get rid of captains altogether.
The captain concept is a load of rubbish in gaelic games.
It belongs to other games like cricket or rugby where they actually take on field decisions re strategy.
In Gaelic games the captain should be renamed "cup lifter/coin toss guesser".

Hill.Farmer (Derry) - Posts: 31 - 11/06/2009 20:23:29    308723

I don't often contribute to the Forum but I am still in shock and very incensed over the whole aftermath of Derry v Monaghan game and actions this week of the GAA authorities in relation to the appeals.
Firstly, let me make it clear that what happened during the Derry v Monaghan game was not good and I am not going to make excuses, although it may appear like that, but I would like to make the following points.
The Game Itself.
I was at the game in Celtic Park and what I witnessed was not a surprise to me or any other real Derry or Monaghan supporter. This was the biggest game for both Derry and Monaghan in about 4-5 years, Both counties were hell bent on winning an Ulster title this year, what we saw was passion and intensity that spilled over into alot of niggles and off the ball incidents, I don't except that both counties went out to use spoil tactics. Although Monaghan lost, I did enjoy the game as the atmosphere was electric at times, just like championship games should be like. I did not leave the game thinking that a number of players deserved 8 week suspensions, that's for sure.!! there were no malicious incidents where one player went out to seriously hurt another player.
To be honest, I watched the highlights of the Kildare v Offaly game that evening and it was pure dribble, not an ounce of passion or a decent hit in the whole game.

RTE Pundits
After the game, I was shocked to hear the treatment Monaghan got from the RTE pundits. Yeah, it wasn't a pretty game to watch but singling out players and making vindictive comments (Brolly about Clerkin) and saying that they were delighted Monaghan were beaten is not acceptable. Can the RTE pundits not take note that these are amateur players who sacrifice their free time, their families & their careers for the pride of playing football for their County and deserve some respect and not personal insults.
Also, RTE should not have pundits commenting on a game where they are from one of the Counties involved. Pundits just cannot be impartial, FACT! You cannot compare GAA pundits to Soccer pundits where an ex soccer player commenting on a match involving a former club doesn't really give a dam who wins. With the GAA, you will follow your County through thick and thin until the grave and no way can you sit on a panel of pundits and be impartial, that's why Tommy got the ban in the first place, Anthony Tohill trying to find a Monaghan scape goat cause of two unsavory incidents by Derry that he pointed out.

Doherty, Freeman & Mullan
Doherty - He should not have been banned at all. The Ref dealt with it on the pitch and it should have been left at that.
Mullan - The Ref did not see the incident and he deserved a ban but 4 weeks was enough. It wasn't a malicious incident.
Freeman - He did not make contact with his head. Ok, there may have been some intent but he showed enough constraint not to make contact.
The problem was that the GAA had to take some action due to the meal the RTE pundits made out of it. If the game was only on TV3 or BBC1, I guarantee not a word would have been said about it.
As a season ticket holder who attended all league games bar one this season, I know I will not be going to any more County games for a long time, I don't expect i'm the only one who feels like this in Monaghan. So the GAA stands to loose alot more then the 10k they expect to get out of the Monaghan County board.

SouthMonMan (Monaghan) - Posts: 165 - 11/06/2009 20:36:55    308747

What a joke. sad day mullens how the heck did he get off with a 1 match suspension. tommy gets 3 matchs. unreal there was far worse than him at that match(not just the 2 derry players who were halved). hope brolly and co are happy . never miss a match couldn stomach going to another county game. cannot believe the gaa shocking descision knee a person in the privates is a less offence than what tommy did give me a bucket. as for the 10000 fine hopefully the county board sees sence and tell those overpaid folk to take a run and jump

drumlinboy (Monaghan) - Posts: 9 - 11/06/2009 20:54:47    308765

Niamh, please stop your ridiculous posting. You agreed yourself some weeks ago that Mullan's action was cowardly and disgraceful. Now you are effectively defending it. You know in your heart and soul that his actions were significantly worse than anything Tommy was alleged to have done, and you know that Brolly/Tohill/Cassidy (stalwarts of '93 whom I used to admire) have managed to pull off a great coup here. I believe Fergal Doherty was unlucky to be suspended. He deserved to be sent off, because on at least 4 separate occasions he committed yellow card offences. That doesn't mean he deserved a suspension (I'm giving him the benefit of the doubt on the alleged gouging incedent - I can't think any player would willingly do that). But to try and justify what Mullan did as being less serious than what Tommy did is just cringeworthy.

PearseBro (Monaghan) - Posts: 459 - 11/06/2009 21:27:38    308795

joe brolly defended them on their appeals and the derry county board got master coverage of the game from the bbc they had footage not shown on tv

hipster (Dublin) - Posts: 2509 - 11/06/2009 21:40:58    308814

Give over Dellboypolecat, he tripped him once and kicked him one with minimum force.

I'd like to see all these kicks you speak off. You are wile man for fabricating stuff.

SouthDerryGael (Derry) - Posts: 159 - 11/06/2009 21:43:54    308816

Just shocking decision from the CCC, halving brian mullan's suspension after his behaviour, if anything he should have got 3 months for his barbaric assault, doherty and his behaviour warranted 8 weeks, tommy also deserved 8 weeks, however, after noth derry players getting their bans halved, i fully expect freeman to win his case with the DRA,

nevergiveup08 (Monaghan) - Posts: 315 - 11/06/2009 21:50:49    308824

theres two sets of rules in the GAA at this time. One set applies to Tyrone, Monaghan and the Dubs. The other rules apply to the rest. How could Ryan Mc Mennamin get three months for gropping a Kerry player and A Derry player gets one month for kneeing a Monaghan player in the groin and causing him an injury. If Ricey were to kiss Paddy Bradly on Sunday week I guarantee hed get 2 months for it but if Paddy was to use the boot in his back he wont even get a tick for it. One of the Monaghan backs is still in back pain after the kicks he got in that match. The ref dident see that nor did the media. Its not a level playing field if the same rules dont apply for everyone. Its only a game but there should be fair play for everyone. I f the GAA wants to take the dirt out of it then they must treat all counties the same.

border Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 913 - 11/06/2009 21:53:45    308827

Derry players got their bans halved, happy days, common sense prevailed. Get over it and move on.

We have a match against Tyrone to concentrate on, so lets look forward with anticipation. Monaghan have their own county board etc, let them sort themselves out.

Scenicgael (Derry) - Posts: 38 - 11/06/2009 22:15:10    308855

SouthDerryGael
County: Derry
Posts: 84

308816
Give over Dellboypolecat, he tripped him once and kicked him one with minimum force.

I'd like to see all these kicks you speak off. You are wile man for fabricating stuff.


Go to spec savers please he kicked him more than once .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 11/06/2009 22:23:39    308876

border Gael
County: Monaghan
Posts: 121


Not the dubs one of there men got off striking last week.

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 11/06/2009 22:25:24    308879

Dell boy was on here crying about tyrone suspensions in the National League,thet didnt deserve it so 2 faced,they done nothing wrong bla bla bla

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 11/06/2009 22:26:18    308880

tomaoo7
County: Dublin
Posts: 3220

308880
Dell boy was on here crying about tyrone suspensions in the National League,thet didnt deserve it so 2 faced,they done nothing wrong bla bla bla


Everyone should be treated fairly and how the dublin man got off last week is way beyond me and if your about to start another argument do not bother as i will not reply to them unless your going to talk without stupid arguments.

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 11/06/2009 22:45:22    308907

Dellboy if you want stupid comments google your comments about ricey and mcguigan.Dont call for players to be suspended when you came on here saying tyrone players do nothing,what dublin player are you talking about this week.

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 11/06/2009 22:51:11    308918

tomaoo7
County: Dublin
Posts: 3221

308918
Dellboy if you want stupid comments google your comments about ricey and mcguigan.Dont call for players to be suspended when you came on here saying tyrone players do nothing,what dublin player are you talking about this week.


Your half back that struck meade off the ball .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 11/06/2009 22:53:52    308922

its only fair them monaghan boys are bad mannered pups

beer baron (Cavan) - Posts: 3916 - 11/06/2009 22:54:18    308923

Ger Brennan Struck meade and got off fair is all poeple want .

Dellboypolecat (Tyrone) - Posts: 15069 - 11/06/2009 22:56:09    308928

This has all taken a more sinister twist with the knowege that Joe Brolly compiled the case that got Doherty and Mullan's bans halved and represented them in the hearing.

His initial attack on Monaghan on the day of the match (on the Sunday Game LIVE)was biased and completely unbalanced and disgraceful. The naked dislike of Monaghan for having the termerity to beat Derry the previous two years running was clear to see.

This set the tone for what was to follow, with Anthony Tohill cleverly setting up Tommy Freeman for suspension.

The coup was completed when we discover Brolly represented both by first viewing BBC tapes of the match and compiling 'evidence' in support of both and building a case accordingly. The jist of the argument was, that both reacted to provocation.

If that becomes grounds for a reduction in suspension, where are we going.

In that case, why was TOmmy Freeman's ban reduced for the same reason. I was at the match and happened to glance across at Tommy's area when Derry's goal went in at the other end of the pitch. THe Derry goalie was up in Tommy's face, waving his fist right in Tommy's face and roaring at him. The umpires ignored it.

That was extreme provocation. This is not by way of justifying anything but I'm trying to outline the lack of consistency here.

On the day, Derry eked out the win because they took there chances with the wind and Monaghan didn't.

That's the way it goes and the best of luck to them I thought gutted as I was at the time.

But the cynical unwarranted attack on the county and it's players has achieved the ultimate result for Derry and it's team of proffessional pundits and Queen's Counsel. They have not only finally beaten their nemesis, but they have managed to get their best player suspended for 3 matches (if they happen to get past the first game). To hear the smugness of Brolly earlier was nauseating.

To have this individual given the freedom of the national airwaves (without any challenge) on two separate occassions is nothing short of disgraceful.

I have never felt so let down by this association and those that run it. All principles of fair play have been abandoned in favour of trial by television pundits.

Remember both Tohill & Brolly were teammates and friends of Damien Cassidy the Derry manager. How could they be considered impartial ?

In addition, Brolly again reiterated his admiration for Fergal Doherty and how his son had photo's taken with him recently etc and how they are good personal friends. It certainly explains the personal attacks on his opponent.

Please those senior men of the GAA, please rectify this gross miscarriage of justice.

PearseBro (Monaghan) - Posts: 459 - 11/06/2009 22:58:36    308933

Yes brennan was wrong and caught on camera,i dont know what led up to it do you

tomaoo7 (Dublin) - Posts: 5896 - 11/06/2009 23:00:52    308936

tomaoo7
County: Dublin
Posts: 3220

308880
Dell boy was on here crying about tyrone suspensions in the National League,thet didnt deserve it so 2 faced,they done nothing wrong bla bla bla

That's a fair point Dell. Double standards? The linesman saw exactly what Ger Brennan did on Sunday. He relayed what he'd seen to the ref, who probably asked him if it was a red card offence, to which he must have replied no otherwise he'd have been sent off. So the Ref booked him. Then I assume the incident was examined on video and no further action was taken. So what's the problem? I don't see why you're bringing it into the argument. Unless you're suggesting your fellow referee knew it was a red card and for some reason, bias towards Dublin maybe, only gave a yellow? Couldn't imagine any ref doin that I'm sure you couldn't either?

bluboy (Dublin) - Posts: 318 - 11/06/2009 23:01:59    308939