I agree with you in regards of looking after players and the dangers of the game but Kyle Hayes didn’t do anything wrong and maybe Limerick are getting targeted because they are a great team like the Cats were and I will ask you one honest question.
Johnny Sexton has has had how many concussion protocol measures to pass in his playing career?
I would say even himself has more than any GAa team collectively in the past 10 years .
To me that’s dangerous!!
Agree on the Kyle Hayes incident. See my previous post. Looks accidental to me.
Ya Jonny Sexton is an interesting comparison. But note the following:
--Rugby is a far more legally physical sport.
--Johnny plays, and tackles in such a way that he definitely increases his risk of head hits.
--There are heavy punishments for any wreckless contact around the head or neck by opposition players. Accidental or not, its a red card. And its a rule that is actually implemented.
--HIA was also introduced to help protect players.
--Johnny is a full-time professional, which allows him the best of treatment facilities and recovery he needs.
Neither hurling or football are a game of rugby, and were never intended to be. But they are getting more and more violent, dirty, and aggressive.
Nothing wrong with a tough shoulder, once its into an opponents shoulder.
But what often qualifies as 'tackling' today is:
-- A shoulder to the front, back, head.
-- one arm holding a player
-- Both arms wrapped around a player
-- Sneaky jersey pulling
-- Tripping
-- Running across another players run path to take them down
-- Rugby tackling
-- Flick of hurley to head
-- Hurley around neck
-- Hurley flick on opponents arms/hands
-- clothslining
Sometimes a free is given, but 80% of the time there's no free.
And thats just the tackling. Thats before we look at the proper dirty stuff like punching, elbowing, stamping, hurly jabs, hurley swings, gouging, fish hooking, all out free-for-alls.
In defense of the players, it is a case of eat or be eaten, dog-eat-dog. They need to succumb and engage in the above culture of play in order to survive, and compete on the pitch. Because the GAA are not doing anything about punishing this behaviour, implementing the rules properly, and ending the culture of cyncicism and violence. It's left to the players to fend for themselves.
Its a disgrace. Those in high-level positions in GAA, and media (mainly RTE) should hang their heads in shame.
