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Gonzaga make history with dramatic late comeback to dump Blackrock out of Leinster Senior Cup

They scored two tries at the death to steal a famous victory.

LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP FIRST ROUND

blackrock-dejected-at-the-final-whistle Blackrock dejected at the final whistle. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

GONZAGA COLLEGE 22 BLACKROCK COLLEGE 21, Energia Park

GONZAGA MADE HISTORY by beating Blackrock for the first time in the Leinster Schools Senior Cup first round at Energia Park this afternoon.  

They did it by staying in the game when they could have faded out of it, trailing 21-10 with time against them.    

Initially, the sheer bulk of the Blackrock pack suggested they would go route one and they didn’t disappoint early on, using their physical advantages well on both sides of the ball.  

The back row of James Culhane, Matthew Wood and Aaron Rowan set about making the fringes a no-go area, often doubling up in the tackle to discourage number eight Hugo Fitzgerald and prop George Morris.

They moved ahead in the second minute from Tom Gavigan’s first and third penalties for a 6-0 lead in the third and 12th minutes, the out-half glancing another effort off the left upright.

Gonzaga, forced to survive on crumbs, did look dangerous when the ball reached the hands of centre Jack Browne.

They slipped further behind when Blackrock’s maul created the diversion for Tom Henderson to skate home from Sam Small’s lovely inside ball, Gavigan adding the extras for 13-0 on the half-hour.

gonzaga-fans-celebrate-after-the-game Gonzaga fans celebrate after the game. Tommy Dickson / INPHO Tommy Dickson / INPHO / INPHO

At last, Gonzaga were able to force a shot at goal for Harry Colbert to snap the lead back to ten only for Gavigan to make it 16-3 at the interval.

The complexion of the contest changed when Gonzaga wing Simon Wilson took off down the left and the same man was on hand to claim Colbert’s crossfield kick for a superb try, converted by Colbert in the 39th minute to make it a one-score game.

Their hopes of a comeback looked to be dashed when ‘Rock wing Joh Francis Campbell sliced through on the left to make it an 11-point game.
   
With time ticking by, Gonzaga were clinical in the endgame, first forcing the issue for wing Hugh Lynn to dive over on the right, Colbert a foot away from making the conversion.

They needed the ball back quickly and they got it, moving through the gears to stretch ‘Rock to the right and swinging left for Wilson to take Colbert’s pass off his bootlaces for a fine finish.

The pandemonium in the stands did not prevent Colbert from holding his nerve to give Gonzaga the lead and a place in the quarter-final.            

Scorers: Gonzaga: S Wilson 2 tries; H Lynn try; H Colbert pen, 2 cons.
Blackrock College: T Henderson, JF Campbell try each; T Gavigan 3 pens, con.      

BLACKROCK: Shane Murray; Tom Henderson, Sam Small, Ben Brownlee, John Francis Campbell; Tom Gavigan, Matthew Cullen; Scott Barron, Charlie O’Carroll, Hugo O’Malley, Mark Morrissey (capt), Alex Simpson, James Culhane, Matthew Wood, Aaron Rowan.

Replacements: Harry Maguire for O’Malley, Jeff Kenny for Henderson both 47 mins; David Walsh for Rowan 60 mins; Jack Byrne for Simpson 63 mins; Paddy McCarthy for O’Carroll 69 mins; Liam Heylin for Barron, Michael Moloney for Gavigan both 70 mins.  

GONZAGA: Jamie McNulty; Hugh Lynn, Brian Barron, Jack Browne, Simon Wilson; Harry Colbert, Eadbhard O’Callaghan; George Morris, George Kenny, Ronan Shaw, Seamus Carroll, Spencer O’Connell, Arthur Henry, Tom Cullen (capt), Hugo Fitzgerald.

Replacements: Davy Colbert for Browne 47 mins; Max Colgan for O’Callaghan 50 mins; Noah Maguire for G Morris 60 mins.

Referee: P Hancock, Leinster Branch.

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    Mute Conor Alexander Lynott
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    Apr 16th 2018, 12:09 PM

    Look, I appreciate she’s a good referee and all, but isn’t it the whole point of being a referee to let the players take the spotlight? I just hope that the award judges aren’t motivated by her gender

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    Mute james lee
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    Apr 16th 2018, 1:15 PM

    @Conor Alexander Lynott: 100% on the money.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:28 PM

    @Conor Alexander Lynott: Of course they are motivated by her gender, and they are right to be. Her achievements represent a breakthrough for women (half the population) in sport. She has blazed a trail.

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    Mute Lee Jones
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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:44 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: well said.

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    Mute Conor Alexander Lynott
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:13 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: So we are mixing socio-political factors like women equality rather than pure sporting considerations of male and female into sport now? The GAA was nearly destroyed in the 1890s because it supported Parnell in the Captain O’Shea controversy which was a political issue. Lesson: By all means have both sexes participate, but not at the expense of sporting considerations.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:23 PM

    @Conor Alexander Lynott: Surely it’s up to the organising committee to decide what considerations they want to use when handing out the awards. This isn’t the IRFU awards, or Sports Ireland awards or any national sporting body.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:29 PM

    @Conor Alexander Lynott: No: ‘we’ (or rather the Rehab judges) are simply recognizing outstanding achievement in the field of sport.

    Sport does not and cannot exist in a vacuum, removed from society. Achievements, as in all areas of life, need to be seen in their proper context: in this case, a woman rose to the top in a previously completely male-dominated arena. That means something. That matters. And it’s only right that it be acknowledged as important.

    Giving either Parnell or Katharine O’Shea ‘sports person of the year’ would have been a stretch.

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    Mute Mike
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:46 PM

    @Conor Alexander Lynott: I don’t think that’s the ‘whole point of being a referee’. We all agree that in the course of a game, a good one isn’t really noticed and lets the players shine. But, outside of the game, good ones, especially trailblazers like Neville, need to be cherished and praised to the hilt. We have no games without referees. Well done to her.

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Apr 16th 2018, 12:15 PM

    How can a ref be sportsperson of the year? Who’s up for next year the ball boy at Wimbledon?

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    Mute Ruairi O'Bric
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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:07 PM

    @Chris Mc: ballperson

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    Mute BigSFLou..ny
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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:31 PM

    @Ruairi O’Bric: ball it…maybe they will identify as a square so how dare you classify them as a ball even though the are round they identify as flat edge cubes.

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    Mute Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin
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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:06 PM

    @Chris Mc: Sportsperson…person involved in sport…it doesn’t seem that difficult to comprehend really if you think hard about it.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:20 PM

    @Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin: That’s asking a lot of them (hard thinking).

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    Mute Ruairi O'Bric
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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:23 PM

    @Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin: maybe micheal o muircheartaigh could captain the football All Star side later this year.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:02 PM

    @Ruairi O’Bric: Still struggling with the concept of ‘sports person’ (as opposed to ‘sports player’), I see.

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    Mute Ruairi O'Bric
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:31 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien: not really, a referee doesn’t play a sport. They referee.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:50 PM

    @Ruairi O’Bric: that’s his point its not player of the year it’s person of the year.

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    Apr 16th 2018, 12:24 PM

    Fair play to her for her achievements, but a ref as sports person of the year kind of seems like a slap in the face to competing sports people. Off the top of my head, Stockdale was the record 6Nations try scorer and grand slam winner in his debut season, Damien Browne did a solo Atlanic crossing, Joe Canning brought Liam to Galway for the first time in 3 decades and Katie Taylor became World Champion.

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    Mute Gerard McConnell
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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:22 PM

    @Johnny 5: Con O’Callaghan won the football All Ireland and club hurling all ire

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    Mute Gerard McConnell
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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:23 PM

    @Gerard McConnell: He should look to become a GAA ref to get this award!! Joke shop pc tripe.

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    Mute Forfar So Good
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    Apr 16th 2018, 12:49 PM

    just because she is making inroads as a female ref in a previously male dominated area, she does not deserves this. At the end of the day she is just another ref and tbh its political correctness gone mad..
    All credit to her but this is totally wrong….

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:28 PM

    @Forfar So Good: No: it is totally right.

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    Mute Nick Allen
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    Apr 16th 2018, 4:16 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien:

    What sport does play and get the award for?

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Apr 16th 2018, 4:28 PM

    @Nick Allen: Pardon?

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    Apr 16th 2018, 4:41 PM

    @Brendan O’Brien:

    I think you can work out that there is a ‘she’ missing from my question.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Apr 16th 2018, 4:49 PM

    @Nick Allen: Maybe there’s a point in there somewhere too, but it’s not a very good one unless you can point to a regulation that says the winner must be a sports *player*.

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    Mute Paddy Waggon
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    Apr 16th 2018, 1:02 PM

    Hummmm. Since when do ref s get sport person of the year. Fair play and all . But she’s a ref. Seems to be a bit insulting and condescending if anything.

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    Mute Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin
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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:22 PM

    @Paddy Waggon: Since when do the rules say the person has to play the sport as opposed to being involved in sport?

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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:40 PM

    @Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin: If that’s true I cannot wait for Howard Webb to win the Ballon d’or and shur while we are at it give John Cena the boxing heavyweight belt.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:24 PM

    @.: When you have to rely on false equivelency like that you know you’re arguement is failing.

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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:38 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: Trying to point out how idiotic it is. Not only should no ref ever be even considered for this award, she has reffed one game in the pro14. How many other irish refs have refred many many more games than her? And why arnt they nominated for anything? How can you say its a sports awards, all it is, is politics PR and pandering to the PC brigade.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 16th 2018, 7:23 PM

    @.: What has the amount of Pro14 games she’s reffed got to do with it? It’s not an award for sporting achievement. It’s an award for people who’ve added to others lives through what they’ve done in sports in the last year. Neville has done that by breaking down doors for women in a field that has for so long being for men only and in doing so inspired a whole generation of women and gay women in particular. She’s rightly being celebrated for what all she has done.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Apr 16th 2018, 8:22 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: I was about to say this. The people of the year awards are about inspirational people it’s not necessarily about sporting success. She was in that category because she is involved with sport and she is an inspirational person, maybe men just don’t get it because they don’t need people like that to look up to as much as women do.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    Apr 16th 2018, 12:33 PM

    What an achievement to add to her world ref of the year, her grand slam and 70 odd Irish caps. Her dedication and drive are an inspiration and she’s a worthy role model for any kids, boys and girls ,out there. After what’s been a hard few weeks for rugby perception in Ireland it’s great for the news to shift onto someone who’s literally smashed the glass ceiling. I can’t wait until I see her ref a six nations game.

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    Mute The Irish Pain
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    Apr 16th 2018, 1:35 PM

    @Jim Demps: I’m sorry Jim but what a load of codswallop. Great role model absolutely, but this award is a sham.

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    Apr 16th 2018, 1:49 PM

    @The Irish Pain: she’s a person and she’s involved in sport. She absolutely deserves it. She got it because she’s a gay woman who is excelling in a male dominated part of sport. I think that’s quite inspirational and any kid or person who has ever been told that they can’t do something should look at her story.
    As for a sham, have a look at what the people of the year awards are about and some of the other winners. It’s not all about winning or being the best but about making the biggest difference in their community and chosen profession or surroundings. If people don’t understand that and think how can she get the award above say Stockdale then there’s nothing I can say to change their minds

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 16th 2018, 2:14 PM

    @Jim Demps: Well said

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    Mute Conor Alexander Lynott
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    Apr 16th 2018, 2:17 PM

    @Jim Demps: No one is saying we’re not inspired. She was already awarded World Rugby Referee of the Year which is the highest honour rugby can bestow apart from a Rugby World Cup final which she has already achieved in the Women’s game.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    Apr 16th 2018, 2:24 PM

    @Conor Alexander Lynott: so she shouldn’t get another award because she’s already been recognized by world rugby? The people of the year awards and rugby awards are being run by separate bodies.

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    Mute Conor Alexander Lynott
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    Apr 16th 2018, 2:27 PM

    @Jim Demps: Read my reply to S.Leahy and The Irish pain. That should answer your question.

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:00 PM

    @Conor Alexander Lynott: I see your point but youre not taking the nature of the awards into consideration.

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    Mute .
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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:14 PM

    @Jim Demps: great women but suggest that her winning this award and particularly the ref of the year award isn’t motivated by the media reception it recived is very nieve. How they shoe horned her into ref of the year after a few pro12 games is insulting to people’s intelligence.

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    Mute The Irish Pain
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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:18 PM

    @Jim Demps: Jim I’m sorry but it’s PC nonsense.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:32 PM

    @Conor Alexander Lynott: and Stockdale won six nations player of the tournament yet people think he should have won, so why would it be ok for him to get two awards and not her?

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    Mute Conor Alexander Lynott
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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:58 PM

    @Sam Harms: First of all, unless you’re referring to his Six Nations medal, Stockdale didn’t get two awards for the Six Nations. Second, and I’ve explained this already, sport is player driven, not referee driven because people pay to watch players. So any award that is not specifically designated to referees e.g. World referee of the Year should prioritise the excellence of player.s because so much money is spent promoting and supporting. Thus, gender should have nothing to do with the decision. Its much the same as appointing Nigel Owens as World referee on ability alone and not letting the fact that he’s gay play any part. Do you get it?

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:12 PM

    @Conor Alexander Lynott: I didn’t say he got two awards. He won player of the tournament and if he had have won this award like some people said he should have that would be two, is it that hard to understand? Nobody said gender has anything to do with the decision, you’re the one saying that, is it that hard to believe that a woman won an award because of her achievements and not because she is a woman? You clearly have a lot of growing up to do.

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    Mute Conor Alexander Lynott
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:30 PM

    @Sam Harms: I play the ball, you play the man by firing a personal attack rather than trying to say something constructive and I’m the immature one? A good sign of a lost debate is a personal attack/cyber bullying. At that point, I say to myself: ‘Job well done’ because there is no answer for me except to resort to bullying hahahaha

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:34 PM

    @Conor Alexander Lynott: where did I bully you?

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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:41 PM

    @Sam Harms: Told me to grow up simply for a debate contribution you disagreed with. If that’s not a personal attack/cyber bullying I don’t know what is. The minute you turned personal, that’s bullying dude.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:47 PM

    @Conor Alexander Lynott: I said you need to grow up because you clearly have some issue with the fact that a woman received the award. And to be honest you’re kind of proving my point.

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    Mute .
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:50 PM

    @Sam Harms: You must be delusional if you think this award has nothing to do with her gender/sexual orientation.

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    Mute Conor Alexander Lynott
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    Apr 16th 2018, 7:00 PM

    @Sam Harms: I never said that. I said sporting considerations, rather than political considerations which does not impede full participation. I lost my brother to suicide because of cyber bullying on a similar website in a very similar manner. Did he prove your point?

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Apr 16th 2018, 7:03 PM

    @.: even if it was what’s the issue with that?

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    Mute Conor Alexander Lynott
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    Apr 16th 2018, 7:08 PM

    @Sam Harms: Bringing politics into sport destroys it. Hence, the GAA example.

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    Apr 16th 2018, 7:15 PM

    @Sam Harms: It alleges to be a sports award. We are reading about it on a sports website. Not one thing you say can convince me she has done enough in the year to deserve this sports award. Reffed a handful of games which were of small importance. If it was an achievement award then by all means she’s done plenty that deserves recognition but by awarding her things she has no right to win, and everyone knows she shouldn’t even be in the picture undermines everything she’s achieved

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 16th 2018, 7:49 PM

    @Conor Alexander Lynott: Yes all the stances the GAA have taken politically have really destroyed it. It’s an organisation that’s a shadow of it’s former self

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Apr 16th 2018, 8:25 PM

    @Conor Alexander Lynott: so no woman or man who succeeds in a sport predominantly seen as a sport of the other sex should get an award for their achievements?

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Apr 16th 2018, 8:27 PM

    @.: it was a people of the year award which recognises inspirational individuals she was in the sport category because she is involved with sport, the category isn’t necessarily about sporting success

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    Mute Conor Alexander Lynott
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    Apr 16th 2018, 8:34 PM

    @Sam Harms: You’re missing the point. I spelt it out to you very clearly. Im not going to waste my time repeating myself over and over.

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Apr 16th 2018, 4:41 PM

    In other news a can of Coca Cola has just won European car of the year

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    Mute S.Leahy
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    Apr 16th 2018, 12:36 PM

    No ref = no game, so she is just as entitled as anyone else to win this award. The begrudgers have obviously never reffed a game, just as much work as playing, between fitness and staying on top of the laws. Fantastic ref and a well earned rise to the top. Congrats Joy!!

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    Mute The Irish Pain
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    Apr 16th 2018, 1:33 PM

    @S.Leahy: I don’t see anyone begrudging her, just stating facts. She’s not a sportsperson!

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    Mute Conor Alexander Lynott
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    Apr 16th 2018, 2:00 PM

    @The Irish Pain: She’s a sports person all right, but its the nature of sport to recognise sport players, rather than brilliant sports facilitators like Neville. @S.Leahy: Agreed – no ref, no game. By the same token, though, no fans, no money to pay the ref and fans pay to watch players and awards should reflect that. i’ve reffed a game in a wheelchair and got blasted if I ever took the spotlight. Is that discrimination? No, its part of the game and I expected nothing less.

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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:48 PM

    @S.Leahy: what about the lad who cuts the grass in the Aviva, no lawnmower no game. She’s a ref not a sportsperson, no more than that.

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    Mute Sorcha Ní Shúilleabháin
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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:24 PM

    @The Irish Pain: She’s a person involved in sport..a sportsperson..is it that big of a stretch to understand why get got the award?

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    Apr 16th 2018, 1:43 PM

    Farsical!

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    Mute hallelujah
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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:41 PM

    well done to her. But Joe Canning should have got it. He achieved a lot more .

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    Apr 16th 2018, 1:18 PM

    Huge Congrats to her!

    Great achievement in breaking down barriers and getting to such a high level so quickly.

    Hard to understand the begrudging negative comments made here.

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Apr 16th 2018, 1:40 PM

    @Lad_The: again who’s begrudging? It’s a sportsperson of the year award. A ref is not a sports person.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 16th 2018, 2:18 PM

    @Chris Mc: The answer to your question is you

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    Apr 16th 2018, 2:47 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: Well said Eddie. Looks like the mob is against this though.
    I for one remain impressed by her achievements

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    Mute Paul Mcnevin
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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:27 PM

    @Lad_The: She’s a sports official. Are sports officials competing against each other? No. There’s no doubting her achievements of the past and her current success in officiating. The ‘Sportsperson’ in this competition may have to be redefined.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:31 PM

    @Lad_The: The begrudging comments, and the level of support for them, are saddening.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:34 PM

    @Paul Mcnevin: A Sportsperson is a person involved involved in sports. I could be wrong but I’m pretty certain she is both a person and involved in sports

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:44 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: Well said.

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:53 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: not begrudging her anything. Fair play to her and she has made massive strides in an area that gets plenty of negative comments. But she is a ref not a sportsperson.

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    Mute Paul Mcnevin
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    Apr 16th 2018, 4:05 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: So it includes people collecting tickets at the gate (or a rugby TMO), anyone who sponsors sport individually or collectively? Etc It should just include someone involved competitively otherwise the definition is too wide IMHO. I have the height of admiration for Neville it just seems misplaced.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 16th 2018, 4:14 PM

    @Chris Mc: You can’t say Im not begrudging her but she doesn’t deserve to win it. That’s begrudging her.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 16th 2018, 4:21 PM

    @Paul Mcnevin: That’s false equivalency. But if the guy collecting tickets or TMO did something worthy of winning the award then yea I’d have no issue. The People of the Year Awards aren’t just about awarding sporting excellence. They’re about people who inspire others and Joy Neville has done that. She at the top of her profession and an inspiration to young women across the country. I don’t know why so many people are aggrieved at her being honoured. Do you feel emasculated?

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    Mute Chris Mc
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    Apr 16th 2018, 4:43 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: she does not qualify as a sports person she is an official.

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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:08 PM

    @Chris Mc: Clearly the people who organise the awards and the judges feel she does qualify and that’s all that matters. She may not be eligible for the Chris Mc Sports Person of the year and that’s your prerogative but your opinion on her suitability for this award is irrelevant.

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    Mute Fred McHugh
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:33 PM

    @Eddie Hekenui: the only reason she is winning award is because of her gender. I feel that point can’t be disputed.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:40 PM

    @Fred McHugh: When Nigel Owens won was it just because he is gay?

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    Mute Fred McHugh
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:53 PM

    none of george clancy, john lacey or Rolland got sportspersons of the year. She has received it because it is more of an achievement for a FEMALE ref to rise up the ranks.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 16th 2018, 7:30 PM

    @Fred McHugh: That’s not the only reason she’s won. It definitely played a role in her winning. But she also won because she’s fantastic at her job and has had a fantastic year. And her profile has played a huge role encouraging young women to engage in sport at a time where they feel totally disengaged. This isn’t an award solely for sporting excellence. It’s an award for people in the sporting arena who’ve inspired people in their community. You can’t deny her accomplishments in that regard nor can you deny her accomplishments in the sporting arena.

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    Mute Lad_The
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    Apr 16th 2018, 10:56 PM

    @Fred McHugh: Clancy and Lacey are…..well……crap refs :-). Not sure this award was around in Rolland’s day but he was very highly regarded worldwide so maybe deserving of it.

    Her being female IS the whole reason she won it………..not just because she’s a female but because of the glass ceilings she’s smashed through in a male dominated sphere.

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    Mute Lad_The
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    Apr 16th 2018, 11:00 PM

    @Chris Mc:
    Sport : CHECK
    Person : CHECK
    Official : CHECK
    Sportsperson :CHECK
    Sportsperson who is an official: CHECK

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    Mute Jim Demps
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    Apr 16th 2018, 4:14 PM

    Some of the comments on here beggars belief. I can’t imagine how difficult it must be for someone to overcome discrimination because of gender or sexual orientation.
    https://www.google.ie/amp/s/www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news-and-comment/lilian-thuram-interview-racism-football-fifa-uefa-russia-world-cup-2018-a8116746.html%3famp
    There’s a good line by Thuram in this that says “ the problem with discrimination of all kinds is that when you are not a victim you tend to think it doesn’t exist “

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Apr 16th 2018, 4:50 PM

    @Jim Demps: Yes: some people seem to be incapable of seeing context.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:09 PM

    @Jim Demps: I just feel sorry for them

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:28 PM

    @Jim Demps: and it’s coming from mostly grown men who should know better which makes it even worse. If she was their sister/daughter/wife would they tell her she didn’t deserve it?

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    Mute courageous
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    Apr 16th 2018, 3:30 PM

    Great to see a ref get this award well done to her

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    Mute Rory J Leonard
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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:36 PM

    Meanwhile, in International News, Englishman Michael Oliver has failed to make even the long list for referee of the year in Italy.

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    Mute Fred McHugh
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:30 PM

    @Rory J Leonard: hahahaha, best referee in the world in my eyes.

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:47 PM

    For everyone complaing that she “isnt a sportsperson” , Nigel Owens won Sports person of the decade a few years back. Do ye have a problem with that too?

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 16th 2018, 6:27 PM

    @Sam Harms: He got an MBE for services to sport to. I guess some people think he should hand that back to since he’s not a sportsperson.

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    Mute Kieran
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    Apr 16th 2018, 7:49 PM

    @Sam Harms: eh, no he didn’t. He got an MBE. Completely different thing. Facts please!!

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    Apr 16th 2018, 8:24 PM
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    Mute Kieran
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    Apr 16th 2018, 10:48 PM

    @Sam Harms: Ah c’mon now, you’re grasping at seroious straws there

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    Apr 16th 2018, 8:47 PM

    It’s quite sad how people are completely missing the point of the People of the year awards, for which nominees are put forward by the public so obviously a lot of the public nominated her for the category .

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    Mute Arch Angel
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    Apr 16th 2018, 10:00 PM

    @Sam Harms: I don’t mind that she’s gay or married with a wife, doesn’t seem relevant to me in the slightest. Having said that, it was the article and she herself who highlighted these issues, as I never heard of her I also didn’t know these aspects of her life. I don’t believe they’re pertinent or any of my business.
    Like many others I do believe a national sports award, particularly a Sports Person of the Year award, is supposed to reflect the outstanding achievement of an Irish sports person over the past 12 months, be they male or female. The hint’s in the name. The first paragraph of this article mentions that she won the award, the second that she was presented with it, after that the article describes her life as a gay woman and her previous career.
    As I said it doesn’t bother me if the winner of this award is male, female or, as in previous years a group, but at least let a sporting award be for a sporting acheivement and let’s leave the gender politics for a suitable forum.

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    Mute Brendan O'Brien
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    Apr 16th 2018, 10:24 PM

    @Arch Angel: Having never heard of Joy Neville before, you are free to find out more about her: you are not restricted to this article. Ignorance is not a virtue.

    Joy Neville’s achievement as a sports person has indeed been outstanding over the past 12 months in terms of breaking new ground for women in sport. From Wikipedia:

    ‘In October 2017, together with Andrew Brace, George Clancy and John Lacey, Neville was one of seven referees offered professional contracts by the IRFU. [5] On 28 October 2017 Neville refereed a Rugby Europe Conference match between Norway and Denmark. This saw her become the second women, after Alhambra Nievas, to referee a men’s international match. Nievas had refereed another match in the same competition two weeks earlier. [23][24] On 5 November 2017 Neville became the first woman to referee a Welsh Premier Division match when she took charge of a fixture between Pontypridd and Ebbw Vale. [25] On 15 December 2017 Neville became the first woman to referee a European Rugby Challenge Cup match when she took charge of a 2017–18 pool stage fixture between Bordeaux-Bègles and Enisei-STM. ‘This also saw Neville become the first women to referee a professional European rugby union match. [26][27] On 9 February 2018 Neville became the first woman to referee a Pro14 match when she took charge of a 2017–18 fixture between Ulster and Southern Kings. [28][29] This also saw Neville become the first women to referee a top-level men’s rugby union match in the United Kingdom. [30].’

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 16th 2018, 11:23 PM

    @Arch Angel: Or maybe the award should reflect what the people who give the award want it to reflect. In this case a sportsperson who has had a positive effect on their community.

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    Mute Jason Fogarty
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    Apr 17th 2018, 1:46 AM

    BREAKING NEWS!!!

    The following satirical comment comes with a mild Trigger warning. May the eternally offended be offended and the normal among you smile.

    Yogi bear who previously identified as a male cartoon bear but now a female Latvian cross country runner has won the 200 metres freestyle endurance marathon at jellystone park .
    “You go girl” spectators were heard screaming as she passed the finish line.
    Tami as she now likes to be called retreated to her safe space shortly afterwards and refused to engage with the press after a reporter failed to call her by her preferred pronoun zie.

    Paddy Power has stopped taking bets on Tami becoming female sports person of the year.

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    Mute Pilib
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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:12 PM

    Fair play to her.

    Level of begrudgery here reminds me of how miserable a bunch of gits the Irish are….

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    Mute Sam Harms
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    Apr 16th 2018, 5:50 PM

    @Pilib: it will probably encourage more women to get involved in refereeing too but people don’t seem to even consider that.

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    Mute Colm O'Sullivan
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    Apr 18th 2018, 1:47 AM

    A ref shouldn’t be winning “Sportsperson of the Year”. The clue’s in the name. She looks a very capable ref but she is no longer a sportsperson. Whether they be male or female, officials aren’t competitors and should be ineligible for the award.

    It’s political correctness gone mad.

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    Mute Eddie Hekenui
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    Apr 18th 2018, 2:37 AM

    @Colm O’Sullivan: The clues actually in the title of the awards. It’s the people of the year award. It’s not for sporting achievement. It’s an award for community service for people involved in sports.

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