O’Neill restates his stance on spitting

For the second time in the space of a week GAA president Liam O’Neill has found himself expressing his “abhorrence” at an alleged incident of spitting – this one on the field of play.

Leitrim footballer Emlyn Mulligan has claimed he was spat on by an Offaly opponent towards the end of Sunday’s Division Four game in Carrick-on-Shannon, which Offaly won by a point.

Both teams finished with 14 men, and Mulligan claimed, via Twitter, "I've seen some dirty acts in GAA but for a player covered in blood to spit blood on a fellow player's face (mine) is disgraceful carry-on."

Referee's report
The GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) will examine the referee's report before deciding whether the incident will merit investigation, or indeed suspension, but in the meantime O'Neill was asked about the matter at an event in Croke Park yesterday.

“I’m not going to comment on this specific allegation, because there is due process,” he said, “but any member of the association to be at the receiving end of a spit is very entitled to be angry. I spoke last week about my abhorrence of incidents like this.”

Last week, following the Division One game between Tyrone and Donegal in Omagh, it was reported Donegal defender Karl Lacey, who was injured and thus watching the game, was also allegedly spat at by opposing supporters, with words of apology later coming from the Tyrone dressingroom.

“If the Tyrone County Board apologised,” said O’Neill, of that incident, “that’s the correct thing to do. I have always said any behaviour that makes anyone feel less good about themselves or about being involved in Gaelic Games is abhorrent to me.”

Meanwhile it was confirmed yesterday Kilcormac-Killoughey will start Sunday’s All-Ireland club hurling final against St Thomas’s (Galway) without star forward Daniel Currams, who broke his arm in a challenge game against a Kilkenny under-21 side, on Sunday.

Limerick hurling captain Donal O’Grady is also facing a spell on the sidelines after breaking a collarbone in Sunday’s Division One B win over Carlow.