Advertisement
A still from footage of Sunday's violence in O'Moore Park, Portlaoise. YouTube screengrab

Derrytresk worry about media reports on Portlaoise violence

“We wouldn’t want the coverage to mask or influence the investigation,” Derrytresk co-manager Paul Hughes said as the GAA opened an investigation into Sunday’s brawl.

MEDIA COVERAGE OF the violence which marred the All-Ireland Junior Football semi-final should not be allowed to influence the GAA’s investigation, Derrytresk’s co-manager Paul Hughes said yesterday.

In an interview with TeamTalkMag website, Hughes said that both Derrytresk and Dromid Pearses will have to accept the Central Competitions Control Committee’s findings, including any punishments that may be handed down.

Derrytresk won Sunday’s semi-final in O’Moore Park by 1-10 to 0-07, but Dromid believe that the match should have been abandoned after a number of spectators in Derrytresk tracksuits jumped onto the pitch to get involved in a fight between players.

Yesterday, the CCCC met to begin their review of referee Francis Flynn’s report as well as video footage of the incident, which occurred shortly before half-time.

While members of the Tyrone GAA community are disappointed with the manner in which the incident has been reported, Hughes said, it was most important that the investigation is not affected by media narratives.

“We wouldn’t want the coverage to mask or influence the investigation that follows or indeed the perception of our club in the run-up to the final,” Hughes said.

There’s some residue of disappointment about the reporting but maybe more so among the people of the area about how some media outlets have told this story but that’s modern society, we can’t do anything about that.

Derrytresk play St Patrick’s Clonbur in the All-Ireland Junior Football Final on 12 February in Croke Park.

Read Paul Hughes’ interview with TeamTalkMag here >

Footage ‘will speak for itself’, as Dromid press for Derrytresk punishment

Spillane: ‘the eye doesn’t lie’ – Derrytresk should be punished immediately

Close
12 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sullivan
    Favourite Michael Sullivan
    Report
    Jan 27th 2012, 11:00 AM

    The GAA need to set an example here and come down hard on the scum element that’s creeping into the GAA. Derrytresk should be kicked out of the competition for allowing their fans and substitutes enter the field of play to assault the Dromid players.
    Simples.

    75
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Rob
    Favourite Rob
    Report
    Jan 27th 2012, 11:13 AM

    the scenes at the game were terrible – the response from Derrytresk though has been astonishing!!

    regardless of punishments handed down – the clear response from the club to those involved is that they’ll always be welcome in the clubhouse! this is beyond appalling!!

    ps i also think Dromid have been too quick to wash their own hands of the incident – but something has to change here – and quick!

    52
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute James Neary
    Favourite James Neary
    Report
    Jan 27th 2012, 11:15 AM

    Not taking sides here but if the media have video footage surly they are in a pretty good position to report on it and whatever video footage they have should be used as part of the investigation

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute micktwatter
    Favourite micktwatter
    Report
    Jan 27th 2012, 12:05 PM

    What absolute tosh from the club. They should put their hands up and start banning some of the tramps that invaded the pitch. At least then they will be seen to be addressing the problem.

    37
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Diarmaid Twomey
    Favourite Diarmaid Twomey
    Report
    Jan 27th 2012, 11:26 AM

    The usual attitude so? Ah sher look everyone is against us! Take a look at the video, it doesn’t lie!

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colm Nolan
    Favourite Colm Nolan
    Report
    Jan 27th 2012, 11:14 AM

    Violence is widespread in the gaa at all levels. Life bans for anyone who behaves in the sort of way. That behaviour isn’t accepted on a street so why on a pitch?

    Maybe a bit of legal action would sort it out and stamp it out at all levels

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cormac Flanagan
    Favourite Cormac Flanagan
    Report
    Jan 27th 2012, 12:17 PM

    So it wasn’t the players fault its the medias. Funny heard another manager giving out bout the media getting his players banned. And he was from the same county.

    23
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Stephen Loughnane
    Favourite Stephen Loughnane
    Report
    Jan 27th 2012, 1:19 PM

    They should be thrown out, but we all know that won’t happen, a complete disgrace on their town, their team, northern GAA and themselves…embarrassing really!

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Robert Murphy
    Favourite Robert Murphy
    Report
    Jan 27th 2012, 4:38 PM

    What’s “northern gaa”? If anything I’d say they are a disgrace to Tyrone gaa. Let’s face it though, the way things are going that could be any team from any county… Look at the Louth-Meath final…

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Twomey
    Favourite Michael Twomey
    Report
    Jan 27th 2012, 1:21 PM

    I saw the footage,not near as bad as its made out,the original incident which caused it was off the ball,what happened after,ive seen worse,dromid were beaten fair and square,get over it ye lost and stop the blame game,it takes two to tango,why didnt they act big and stand up to derrytresk and get on with it?????

    14
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Sullivan
    Favourite Michael Sullivan
    Report
    Jan 27th 2012, 1:52 PM

    I think you are missing the point.
    Fans and subs of the Derryfresk team entered the field of play to attack the Dromid players, if you can’t see that as being an issue then there is no point in debating.

    26
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mike Dowling
    Favourite Mike Dowling
    Report
    Jan 27th 2012, 5:10 PM

    @Michael, Interesting Michael that you follow Joey Barton on your Twitter page !
    Maybe your view of acceptable behavior on the field of play needs to be reassessed.

    5
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.