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.
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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?”
@Red Rooster: I read the article on rte and his quotes come across a bit poorly when written down. Some things you say in conversation but the tone seems a bit different when you write them down… So the author was trying to be kind to the man
@Ciaran Kennedy: maybe the conversation time is over and actually a time for action was when the initial concerns were raised? Unfit refs getting games ahead of others isn’t a satisfying situation either, refs under enough scrutiny week after week with no help, something has to change to help them. FWIW he was one of, if not, the top ref around and always came across as well in control and very fair
@Red Rooster: The Examiner gives the full story and to a slightly lesser extent RTE, perhaps the Journal doesn’t want to upset the powers that be in Croke Park.
A top ref who had the respect of players and supporters.He played the game at a high level and did all he could to keep the game going.Unlike some refs that like to take centre stage.He will be a huge loss to the game.Thanks Fergal for being the best ref by far.Tom,London/Limerick
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In there a competition 4 shortest article? Any more information on his disappointment or why he wasn’t chosen as per the headline?
@Red Rooster: I read the article on rte and his quotes come across a bit poorly when written down. Some things you say in conversation but the tone seems a bit different when you write them down… So the author was trying to be kind to the man
@Ciaran Kennedy: maybe the conversation time is over and actually a time for action was when the initial concerns were raised? Unfit refs getting games ahead of others isn’t a satisfying situation either, refs under enough scrutiny week after week with no help, something has to change to help them. FWIW he was one of, if not, the top ref around and always came across as well in control and very fair
@Red Rooster: The Examiner gives the full story and to a slightly lesser extent RTE, perhaps the Journal doesn’t want to upset the powers that be in Croke Park.
@L73: Certainly he’s a far better ref than either of those who reffed Kilkenny v Cork SF or the Limerick v KK final.
A top ref who had the respect of players and supporters.He played the game at a high level and did all he could to keep the game going.Unlike some refs that like to take centre stage.He will be a huge loss to the game.Thanks Fergal for being the best ref by far.Tom,London/Limerick
Best ref by far
Three All Ireland Finals out of the last six. Plus two club finals. That’s a fair chunk of the pie!
Very fair ref , always allowed game to flow. Loved to see him officiating at Kilkenny games.
@james walshe: I bet you did.
Good ref plenty of common sense to games can’t afford to loose refs of this quality. Wake up GAA