THE FATHER OF the Crossmaglen Rangers player who was allegedly racially abused in last year’s Ulster club final believes the GAA have not properly grasped the issue of racism in the sport.
Joey Cunningham played GAA for Crossmaglen and Armagh and Irish League football for Portadown during the 1980′s and early 1990′s.
His son Aaron, who will be in action for Crossmaglen Rangers in the All-Ireland club SFC semi-final against St Brigid’s on February 16th, made the allegation in the wake of Crossmaglen’s win over Down club Kilcoo last December.
The Ulster Council handed out sanctions in the aftermath of the event but it was recently reported that a Kilcoo player involved has had his ban rescinded.
Cunningham, speaking on Newstalk’s Off The Ball programme last night, also described his ‘dismay’ at the rescinding of those bans.
“Here’s how serious it could have got, if I was in the stand and I heard a supporter shouting something at my son, I’ll tell you one thing, it would have got very serious.
“Then the GAA and everyone else would have something to talk about. That’s something for them to digest. What am I to do or anybody else, say Lee Chin’s parents. Are they to sit and listen to someone racially abuse their children and accept it and not react?
“Everybody can lose the head, and by and large people are sensible, but there are some things that cross the line. There is a line you don’t cross and I don’t think they’ve realised how something like this could escalate into something very dangerous.
“I was totally dismayed by how it was reduced. I have to ask the question why was it reduced from six months to four. This guy either said it or he didn’t. If he didn’t say it, I haven’t a problem with him getting off and not getting any suspension. There is no middle ground here. But this was as clear a case as you’re going to get.”
Cunningham revealed that he never suffered racial abuse from opposition players when playing Gaelic football himself but was ‘upset’ at the situation his son was embroiled in.
“I never had it from any player playing Gaelic football. There were different supporters from different county teams that you would have got a bit of it. You just got on with things. When I was playing I was thinking that I’d do my talking on the pitch, I’m going to put this ball over the bar or I’m going to skin him.
“I was so upset I can’t tell you (with Aaron’s situation). You’re talking 20-25 years later and you’re thinking times have moved on.
“I could honestly say to you that everyone knew something had been said, there was no doubt. He’s a good lad and he’s not brazen. The reaction of their player would tell you something was said because he backed off. He didn’t want to get involved.
“After the match I went down to Aaron and said ‘Look it, tell me what was said’. He wouldn’t tell me. He got his mum and told his mum but he wouldn’t tell me because he knew that I would lose the rag. It shows the maturity of him.”
They have been ordered by managent to focus on their remaining games eh..management really cracking the whip there! the games that clearly do not mean a whole lot to them. I think this series is beginning to lose its appeal to the public. Obviously being treated as end of season party by the aussies.shame really, it used to be really good.
It’s just a free holiday for the Aussies
Nonsense. Lions players got into a spot in a night club in New Zealand but I don’t see anyone saying scrap that series. Same with the Irish soccer team on numerous occasions. Should we disband them too? They’re young lads with a week until their next game, it happens in every sport.
Yea it’s not like the British lions were facing an Australian team that were no good ……..equally pointless jolly but more money in it and the hype from $ky is swallowed whole by the egg chasing brigade
Time to knock these test series on the head. No genuine interest in the games and they usually turn into a farce. When players like gooch and Cluxton want nothing to do with it I think it’s indicative of the whole series.
I don’t know where this anti scrap the series sentiment is coming from. For many of the players it’s a privilege to wear the Irish shirt, especially those from the smaller counties. Also, looking at the match on Saturday Breffni Park looked pretty much at capacity. So it still appeals to many of the public.
Ahh the ‘knock it on the head’ bandwagon appears… give it a chance lads, just because some people don’t like it doesn’t mean you have to copy what they’re saying. If you don’t like it, then don’t read the article, you obviously have no interest in it. I have no interest in Association Football, but I don’t go on and comment about how the players are little diving pansies.
Hoy, I see what you did there!
Who cares
I hear they were celebrating their applications for Irish citizenship coming through…
Shock horror….the boys on tour go out for a drink. What ever next….chatting up the local talent? What is the world coming to.
It’s a joke,it’s a free end of season piss up for the ozzies.
A lot of the irish players are still in club champo, and games are been
Moved around to suit everybody.
The only way interest will be generated is if it turns into a brawl with a ball… It should be just AFL no mix.
Must be a quiet day for the journo’s if this is what they call sports news!!
At least the poor indigenous aussies were’nt slumming it in dromoland castle ! They behaved in limerick tho !
“Complaints of noise disturbance by the Australian players”?
Does this not mean the Australian players were the ones complaining about the noise disturbance?
Welcome to Ireland no fun allowed
Their at the Inn at Dromoland not Dromoland Castle or at least that is were their bus is parked up. None of them about when I was in the gym. Their heads must still be sore!!
Aussie Brendan in Galway
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gFZ9p9L2b4