Life is full of hidden and not-so-hidden fault lines, writes An Fear Rua …

There is, for example, the line that runs between those who still regularly attend weekend Mass and others who go about their daily lives wearing the hijab. Then there is the classic one illuminated by the former West of Ireland politician, Mark Killilea, who observed that Fianna Fáil represents the people ‘who still ate their dinner in the middle of the day’.

The controversy that erupted after events preceding the recent Munster senior hurling tie between Clare and Cork reminded us of yet another significant fault line in Irish life. That between hurling men – and women – and the rest.

There has been the almost inevitable outpouring of condemnation and hand wringing from sections of the national ‘meeja’. This should not surprise us. There are writers who are only too happy to jump on the nearest passing anti-GAA bandwagon while studiously averting their eyes to similar – and worse – goings on in other sports. In reflecting on the events in Thurles, their opinions are about as useful to us as a crumpled docket on the floor of a bookie’s shop.

There is no doubt that it would have been a better day in Semple stadium if players from the two teams had not indulged in swinging hurleys and wrestling each other to the ground as they exited the tunnel. Yet, hurling men and women, those who have been brought up in the tradition and ethos of the great game, will have been mystified by the vehemence of the condemnation meted out to Clare and Cork. For at the heart of the game of hurling, particularly in the preliminaries and the early stage of the game, is the concept of ‘Who’s the Boss’.

How many times have we seen a substitute coming on in the forwards getting a dunt on the shoulder or in the ribs from the back who is going to mark him? Frequently, a substitute forward coming on will ‘accidentally on purpose’ bump into his marker. As much as to say ‘Hello. I’ve arrived. I’m the Boss around here now!’ The whole idea is not to cede psychological advantage to your opponent. In a fast moving game like hurling, gaining and maintaining psychological advantage from the outset is critical to success.

That is why, once the first player from one side touched or bumped one from the other – no matter what the pretext nor how innocent the reason – it was inevitable that there would be a reaction. It was inevitable, too, that others would join in. All in the interests of not allowing their opponents the upper hand before even a sliothar was pucked. What we saw in the tunnel at Thurles and along the side line was simply an extended version of the old hurling tradition of showing the other team ‘Who’s the Boss’. Hurling men and women will recognise the phenomenon. Others may affect not to. Punishing players for behaving reflexively in a way that is part of the very DNA of hurling is not only futile. It is worse. It is unfair.

We say unfair, because if anyone should be cited by the GAA for what happened it should be the official or officials responsible for managing the time schedule on a big match day such as this. For there is such a minute-by-minute schedule and there is someone responsible for making sure it goes off without the slightest hitch. Yet, clearly, there was some lack of communication, or miscommunication on the part of one or more GAA officials that resulted in both teams emerging into the tunnel simultaneously. Once that happened, it was inevitable that even the slightest spark would ignite the powder keg. Eight prominent hurlers have had their names unnecessarily thrown into the maelstrom that is the GAA’s current disciplinary procedures. But we will never know the names of the officials who may really have been at fault for what happened nor will they face disciplinary action.

The complicated GAA disciplinary procedures are hanging by a thread. There has been a succession of high profile hurlers and footballers who have beaten the rap based on technicalities. That class of carryon doesn’t do anyone much good. Dis Great Asssoooosheeayshun Of Ours urgently needs disciplinary procedures that are simple, fast, transparent and therefore binding on players, managers and county boards. Taking the proverbial sledge hammer to crush the Semple chestnut, as the GAA are doing, is not the way to achieve this. The sledge hammer should have been stowed for another more appropriate day.

A number of tentative conclusions may be proffered arising from this unhappy episode. One is that hurling managers and mentors may need to re-assess their approach to the short term preparation for big games. It may be that the day of thumping the table and walls with the hurley as the minutes count down, to a chorus of blood curdling yahoos, is over. The modern game might be better served by calmness, focus and concentration in those final minutes. Much like the approach we understand Mickey Harte brought so successfully to the dressing room preparation of winning Tyrone teams. That way, hurlers will be encouraged to demonstrate ‘Who’s the Boss’ in the course of play rather than in the preliminaries.

Both managers at the game claimed not to have seen what happened. Why? Because they were still back in their respective dressing rooms doing chores like packing extra jerseys and presumably ensuring that the first aid kit was fully stocked. Now we yield to no one in our admiration for Cork manager, Gerald McCarthy, and his achievements and Tony Considine has done more than his bit to embellish Clare hurling over the years. But you really have to question the judgment of a manager who sees his place as being still in the dressing room after he has despatched his charges to take the field in a Munster hurling championship game.

Maybe it is time, too, for the GAA to re-assess the value of the almost interminable preliminary ceremonial before big games. For those who like their parades and other paraphernalia this may sound like heresy. But, in the modern competitive game, putting players out on the field twenty minutes before the throw-in to take part in elaborate pantomime is just giving hostages to fortune. A team photograph, a quick warm up, a flick of the coin and the playing of the anthem is more than enough ceremonial.

Finally, we endorse the suggestion of our old friend, Liam Riverdance Griffin, that the number of players in for the initial throw-in should be reduced to just two. The two at the back are an evolutionary anomaly in the modern game and it is time for them to take place beside the Dodo.

The real tragedy of the Battle of the Tunnel is that, if the proposed suspensions stand, they will have effect of ruining this year’s Munster hurling championship as a spectacle. We have no doubt that Cork will bring forward fine replacements for any suspended players and will use the suspensions to good motivational effect.. But if Waterford beat them, as seems more likely now, the charge will forever be made that the currency of their victory would be devalued because they faced a weakened Cork side.

And that will be unfair to both Cork … and Waterford … and their thousands of dedicated followers.

Linked article:
Phoney War at Semple - THE SCRIBE