A chara, – Almost 60 years ago I was a sub – only five were allowed at that time – on a Gaelic football team that reached the All-Ireland senior colleges final in Croke Park. We were beaten by just one point but we weren’t “gutted” or “devastated”. We were proud. As they say nowadays, we had enjoyed the journey.
At that time it was customary to kneel to say a couple of Hail Marys before going out on the pitch. Nowadays the sound of the horrible “F-word” might be the most common sound in the dressing room.
In recent days, some commentators, analysts, ex-players, etc, have been spewing what I can only describe as venom at each other. They contribute nothing to sport; they are superfluous. Last year I attended a number of inter-county GAA games. Some of the fans dismayed and even frightened me. Two nine-year-old boys were reduced to tears by the crude, aggressive language of some adult fans. Beside me a brave young man remonstrated with a vociferous fan. “Do you really want your team to do as you ask them? Do you really want them to commit murder?”
Behind me at another match a woman supporter kept up a chant. “That’s a good lad, get in there, that’s it, get in there and slice him!” Slice him? Can she have been serious?
I think that sport isn’t in a good place at the moment. Many would agree that it is far too competitive. Many think that, with the encouragement of ambitious parents and adults, it places too great demands on our children.
On and off the field, at the moment of victory and defeat there should be a moment of love between victor and vanquished. If we could aim for that. – Is mise,
SEÁN Ó RIAIN,
Baile na Lobhar,
Baile Átha Cliath.