Stricken GAA player was told 'you won't get up after that'

Backward Irish anmils yet agin shoe dere trur clors. Dey need at least 6 months of training before they are let into the civilized world, or as dey mite say, de rale world. Backward mucksavages, evidence supplied here.

A s a native of Ireland and an avid supporter of Gaelic games I am saddened but not surprised. For years this type of blatant thuggery has been tolerated by GAA officialdom. More than 20 years ago I supported Gaelic football in San Diego by employing talented young athletes form ireland and by providing financial sponsorship to GAA tournaments. I withdrew my support after witnessing a display of hostility and tribalism that have no place in any field of sport and certainly not among Irishmen who have any sense of decency or dignity.This type of behavior brings shame to a game that, when played in the spirit of true sportsmanship, is a joy to watch. The worst offenders are the officils who ofter fail to punish blatant transgressions of the rules. Gaelic football has much to learn from Irish Rugby, especially the method of officiating. Who would argue that our rugby players are any less tough because they respect discipline. Striking another player on or off the ball is indefensible cowardice and the GAA should have the moral courage to deal with this incident by fully investigating the incident. If the incident was an assault then it needs to be dealt with. A message needs to be broadcast to all the young men and women who play our national game that there is no place in the GAA for cowards or thugs. If it is determined that the incident was the result of an inadvertent accident then that too needs to be fully explained. There should be full transparency and decisive action I am moved to write about this incident because my son who studies at a University in Ireland was sitting next to Mark mc Govern on the plane when he was travelling from Ireland. I have followed the news with great interest. I am informed that the Mc Govern family are being well supported by the San Francisco community. If they need anything I would like to offer my support. May Mark make a full and speedy recovery. The Mc Govern family is in our prayers.

The GAA, should not send the lads over now, safer at home. Best wishes to Mark and his family on a speedy recovery.

Here in America, this type of activity happens in many professional sports. In actuality, they are premeditated assaults. Law enforcement and prosecutors are very reluctant to get involved. They expect the league administration to handle this type of behavior. I would say that this violence begetted by "tv glorification and violent videos" needs to be stopped.

My son played soccer at the Olympic Development-level and there were teams against which he played over the years whose coaches instruct and require their players to try to injure the best players. Over a period of four years he suffered a disclocation of the right knee, being knocked out by a running elbow to head, and then had to have surgery for an evulsion fracture of the left tibia. Generally, referees do not take into account this "coaching" style and rarely eject players or sanction the coaches or teams who engage in this sort of criminal thuggery.

Absolute thuggery.