Reputation of Galway hurling defended by top GAA official

Dara Bradley

INSINUATIONS that there is an epidemic of disciplinary problems in club hurling in Galway has been rejected by a top Hurling Board official.

Media reports and Sunday newspaper articles over the weekend were dominated by the fall-out from controversial incidents in the senior county final last Sunday week, with many suggesting Galway had a serious problem with discipline.

However, the Galway Hurling Board Chairman Joe Byrne has rejected assertions that on-field disciplinary problems are ‘epidemic’ in the county or more widespread than in other hurling counties.

Byrne pointed out that 1,000 adult hurling games were played in the county this year. He said just a handful of cases arising from these 1,000 games have ended up being referred to the Galway Competitions Control Committee (CCC) for investigation into incidents that occurred during matches but where the referee did not take action on the day.

“I take exception to the suggestions that there’s some sort of epidemic of disciplinary problems in Galway. We played 1,000 adult games this year, and in 0.05%, or less than five games, has an incident been referred to the CCC because it was not dealt with on the day. There is no issue in Galway regarding discipline,” said Byrne.

Byrne made the comments in the wake of the controversy surrounding last Sunday week’s county final involving Loughrea and St Thomas’.

The CCC launched an investigation into unsavoury incidents that occurred during the course of the decider, including several incidents involving Loughrea full-forward Johnny Maher.

The county final, which ended in a first ever win for St Thomas’, was for the most part played in good spirits. However a number of incidents that were not seen and not dealt with on the day by referee Eoin Shaughnessy have received widespread attention since the game was televised on TG4, and subsequently went viral on the internet.

After winning a penalty for Loughrea late on, Maher appears to strike two opponents. He then converted the penalty and subsequently appeared to trip another St Thomas’ player.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.