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Benny Coulter: ' Is it worth giving players abuse on the pitch?' INPHO/Cathal Noonan

Benny Coulter: 'I've been the victim of GAA sledging'

Down forward tells TheScore ‘you get a lot of it’ on the Gaelic football pitch.

DOWN FORWARD Benny Coulter admits he’s been the victim of verbal abuse on the Gaelic football pitch in the past.

The issue of sledging was brought to the foreground in the wake of the spat between Armagh and Laois over a week ago in O’Moore Park.

Orchard captain Ciarán McKeever was sent off and selector Paul Grimley was subsequently landed with a month’s ban after a fiery league encounter which ended with an Armagh statement that accused Laois of racially taunting their players.

The Armagh County Board subsequently accepted that their strongly-worded condemnation was not ‘an accurate reflection’ of what happened in Portlaoise, although both counties agreed that there were some “inappropriate verbal exchanges” between the players.

Over the weekend, Director General Pairic Duffy reiterated the need to stamp out the culture of trash talking in the GAA. And yesterday at Croke Park, the All-Star attacker echoed Duffy’s call.

“You get a lot of it in the GAA in fairness. It has happened, there’s no question or doubt about it,” Coulter told TheScore, saying that he’s been on the end of a few “sly digs, but nothing sectarian.”

It doesn’t bother me in the slightest. When you hang up your boots and you go out and have a pint with a few mates that you’ve played against over the years, you’ll never look twice at those boys that do the slagging during the matches.

“You have friends, great friends in the GAA that you’ll always meet after for a pint. At the end of the day, is it worth giving players abuse on the pitch, or to have a good friendship with some players down through the years?”

Laois manager and Armagh native Justin McNulty, meanwhile, said there was no winners in the disagreement.

Taking stick: Clare looking big for their age

No winners in Portlaoise ‘racism’ row, says Justin McNulty

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15 Comments
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    Mute H-Case
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    Mar 28th 2012, 1:11 PM

    I’ll hold my hands up, I called him a “feckin’ ginger gowl” when he scored that square ball in the semi against Kildare in 2010.

    Sorry Benjo.

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    Mute Popsicle Pete
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    Mar 28th 2012, 3:57 PM

    Made me laugh that one..

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    Mute Michael J Hartnett
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    Mar 28th 2012, 4:46 PM

    Same here

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    Mute Paddy Murphy
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    Mar 28th 2012, 1:55 PM

    Headline is completely misleading: ‘I’ve been the victim of GAA sledging’ When you read the article bennys stroy is all positive. Why give a negative headline for a good honest interview about a lad that lives breaths eats sleeps football and make it look somewhat different? Your headline should be Hi I’m Benny Coulter, I play gaelic for my club, county & country and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Also would like to add its a pleasure watching the likes of Benny Coulter on the pitch, a rare talent

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    Mute Lee Marvin
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    Mar 28th 2012, 9:12 PM

    Well said.

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    Mute Opinion Ated
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    Mar 28th 2012, 1:37 PM

    Non story. Happens in virtually every competitive sport and long may it continue.

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    Mute Nivag Yeoh
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    Mar 28th 2012, 9:52 PM

    Yes. What type of oversensitive pansies have we become that this is even being discussed? They are words, that’s all.

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    Mute paul o brien
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    Mar 28th 2012, 3:34 PM

    Thousands of pounds???? I think you are a bit confused there Figo!!!!!!

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    Mute Lee Marvin
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    Mar 28th 2012, 9:14 PM

    He is obviously joking for feck sake…

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    Mute Figo murphy
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    Mar 28th 2012, 1:18 PM

    These lads get thousands of euro every week to represent their county, playing the sport they love. Surely they can take a bit of banter?

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    Mute Gavin Yore
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    Mar 28th 2012, 4:02 PM

    “thousands of Euro every week”, think your mixing it up with the premiership lad. Sure, they might get fast tracked into a job or might get car sponsorship but thousands of euros weekly, not likely.

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    Mute EM
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    Mar 28th 2012, 6:25 PM

    I’ve never liked any of that off the ball nonsense in GAA, trash talking and having a dig. Pointless and always spolied the game for me. There’s nothing wrong with treating an opponent with respect.

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    Mute Frankie Faldo
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    Mar 28th 2012, 2:10 PM

    What a cry baby, You never see the Dubs moaning and crying We was the victims of some bad tackles on the way to winning the All Ireland but we took it like men. Up the Dubs

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    Mute Diarmaid Twomey
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    Mar 28th 2012, 2:20 PM

    Ha ha ha ha ha! The Dubs, victims? I presume you are a master of irony with a statement like that? Bit rich for any northern team to be cribbing and moaning about antics on a pitch as well, albeit Down are the cleanest and fairest of all of them.

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    Mute william winkell
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    Mar 29th 2012, 1:02 AM

    He’s saying the trash talkers are fools and he’s right. Trash talk gets you a sore jaw.

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