This tread is inspired by a conversation I had with a friend of the late Dermot Early at the week may he rest in peace. The man leaves a legacy after him all fair and to the point on an off the pitch a man with the higest passion and love for the game yet he was the ultimate sports man no need for sly digs off the ball just played the game.

After considering that and looking at the players now adays the pale in comparason it seems to be dirty digs off the ball left right and center petulent slaps, verbal abuse. Also I've seen it many a time in the modern game when a hand is offered at the start of the game only to be met with a belt of a shoulder. Don't get me wrong I nothing against toughness in the game but do it within the 70 odd minutes of the game. Also I think the way games are officiated these days dosen't help let them play the game like men seeing too much diving and play acting nowadays.

They'er GAA players not Diva soccer players pitty there are more players around like the late great Dermot Early although his son is one of the few.

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 28/06/2010 16:02:14    689797

Hag: you're last few words sum it up: one of the few. Tis a dying quality, sacrificed in the pursuit of victory and the win at all costs attitude. Which makes it all the more notable when sportsmanship is demonstrated.

Tongo (UK) - Posts: 1795 - 28/06/2010 16:36:00    689863

I agree with you Hag. I have a personal dislike of any player, either at club or inter-county level, who does not have the decency to shake somebody's hand before the game. I had it done to me a few years ago in a club game and it really sickened me, especially as he led with the shoulder straight into my helmet.

Overall sportsmanship is probably not much worse but the worst thing which is creeping into football and hurling is players diving and faking injury. This is sickening and I really do hate seeing players lowering themselves to that level. I for one would rather see my county beaten than win because of a diving player for a free. I dont have a problem with players inviting a free on them but that is different.

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 28/06/2010 16:41:28    689878

Maybe I'm misguided in my view but an association that's embedded within irish history as it is, when people used to play it when it was outlawed an association that brought the people of ireland together as it did. I struggle to find a comparable sport in the world that had should a guiding influence in creating a society and values of the people and when i see players acting in such a manner it dosen't potray what the GAA is all about..... maybe its the work of capitalist values that have changed this, and a reflection of what Irish society has now become??

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 28/06/2010 16:42:14    689881

It is on this site...

jimbodub (Dublin) - Posts: 20763 - 28/06/2010 16:47:23    689895

I understand, from the commentary on the radio yesterday, that the Westmeath lad dived to get a penalty. Have to say that was incredibly galling as i thought GAA players were above all that sort of stuff.

Tongo (UK) - Posts: 1795 - 28/06/2010 16:48:45    689897

I doubt that there was that much sportsmanship back in the day either and put it down to the usual misty-eyed nostalgia. The fact that Dermot Early and Mick Higgins and a few others rightly get praised for their sportsmanship suggests they were the exception rather than the rule.

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12483 - 28/06/2010 16:52:13    689901

Breffni39:

There was they'd shake hands before the game knock seven shades of s*** out of each other and shake hands after it again.... My favourite player growing up was bobby ryan played in that manner (Tough in the heat of battle) and a sent off the field. I still remember him in 87 I think blood pouring from a massive bandage on his head and he still was getting stuck in didn't go rolling around the ground like he'd been shot..... Another favourite was john power for kilkenny remember being in croker when he came careering into the fence on the side line which had barbed wire at that stage slit his finder on it gave it a quick shake and trotted off again to tackle his marker.

Nowadays all you have is premadonna's in fancy boots!!

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 28/06/2010 17:01:16    689922

Pinkie
County: Wexford

he led with the shoulder straight into my helmet

Ouch

whiterbannnas (Mayo) - Posts: 2441 - 28/06/2010 17:01:43    689923

Good post Hag. Unfortunately the likes of tyrone and other nordies have dragged the game into the gutter in recent times. It is a shame as football is supposed to be fun and it used to be before this unsporting attitude was introduced

whiterbannnas (Mayo) - Posts: 2441 - 28/06/2010 17:04:39    689932

Pinkie
County: Wexford

he led with the shoulder straight into my helmet

Ouch

Lucky it wasn't a few inches lower..... he was a small fellow i take it??

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 28/06/2010 17:06:07    689939

whiterbannnas:

Hurling has gone down that road too and you can't blame the nordies for that..... as much as you would like to.

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 28/06/2010 17:08:59    689949

YES!!

waynoI (Dublin) - Posts: 13655 - 28/06/2010 17:12:58    689955

HAG_AND_CHEESE
County: Tipperary
Posts: 2983

689949 whiterbannnas:

Hurling has gone down that road too and you can't blame the nordies for that..... as much as you would like to.

You can't blame them for the football either hag!!!!!! He is wumming and means none of it!!!! hahaha, you're too good whiterbannnas, too good!!

Breffni40 (Cavan) - Posts: 12483 - 28/06/2010 17:13:47    689956

No I was the smaller one, but there was 60 minutes which followed.....lets just say it wasnt 1 way traffic!! I dont generally lower myself to that level but it was such a sickening incident that I certainly wasnt sparing timber for the rest of the game!

Pinkie (Wexford) - Posts: 4100 - 28/06/2010 17:15:53    689964

Were things more sporting in the 50s and 60s where they say the only thing that stopped the Tipp hurlers from winning every year was the invention of the helmet?

People think other generations are different because people look back with rose tinted spectacles. The reality is that people don't change, if there is an advantage to be had people will take it.

Redfoot (Cork) - Posts: 388 - 28/06/2010 17:24:42    689982

Breffni39:

back in those days the players shook hands before a game.they played hard for 70 mins and shook hands after the game and that dosen't happen as much these day. lads like john power and bobby ryan were my hero's growing up good hard hurlers and gents off the field.

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 28/06/2010 18:10:07    690082

peter canavan tells a story about what a current inter county player did to him once in a club match. Would have to be seen to be believed. Mind boggling how low some people will stoop

whiterbannnas (Mayo) - Posts: 2441 - 28/06/2010 18:39:20    690130

The Wexford minor manager refused to shake hands with the Dublin manager after the match on Saturday. Would have expected more from the person concerned.

hurlingdub (Dublin) - Posts: 6978 - 28/06/2010 18:53:20    690153

"Were things more sporting in the 50s and 60s where they say the only thing that stopped the Tipp hurlers from winning every year was the invention of the helmet?"

I take it your referring to hells kitchen as it was christened.... well the opposition from what i was told were able to give it too.... also everything stayed on the pitch back then.... granted there was always unsporting behaviour but not to the degree these day.... redfoot could you ever imagine that christy ring ever took a dive or play acted??

Hag_and_Cheese (Tipperary) - Posts: 6103 - 28/06/2010 18:54:12    690154