Eye-gouging (Gaelic football)

Eye-gouging is a serious offence in Gaelic games where a player uses hands or fingers to inflict pain in an opponent's eyes. Such incidents are usually referred to as "eye-gouging" among players and in the media.

For the general concept, see Eye-gouging.

History

Colm O'Rourke, a player from the 1970s onwards, wrote this in 2022 for the Sunday Independent: "I was involved in quite a few skirmishes at club level but at that time there were basic rules of engagement. Anyone who kicked, spat or headbutted was fair game for a good hiding, but I had never heard of gouging until it became a problem in rugby".[1]

Incidents

2013 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final at Croke Park: Dublin's Rory O'Carroll in a photograph looking like he is gouging the eye of Colm Cooper as he lay on the ground while Jonny Cooper held his shoulder.[2] In a photograph was much publicised at that time.[3] Manager Jim Gavin investigated but was pleased O'Carroll had no problem to answer for.[4] But, with only the Sportsfile photograph of O'Carroll's index finger in Cooper's left eye and a lack of video evidence, O'Carroll was cleared to play in the 2013 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.[5]

2015 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final: Dublin's Philly McMahon v Kieran Donaghy, McMahon banned for one game.[6][7] McMahon told Morning Ireland: "This is Gaelic football. We're grown men, we play a physical sport and at the end of the day the result is what ends it and we shake hands and get on with it."[8] Tomás Ó Sé and Ciarán Whelan downplayed the incident on The Sunday Game highlights programme.[9][10] Donaghy filmed for documentary saying McMahon gouged him in the eyes.[11][12]

2016 National Football League: Dublin again, Croke Park again, this time James McCarthy looking like he is gouging the eye of a Donegal player, Martin McElhinney in an incident that brought back memories of Patrick McBrearty being bitten in 2013.[13][14][15] McCarthy, who had actually just been shown a red card before he did this, escaped punishment and Dublin manager Jim Gavin said: "To be suggesting there was something malicious, I don't think that's very fair."[16][17] The Irish Independent called for McCarthy to be investigated.[18] But the incident was dismissed as a push by Setanta Sports pundits Senan Connell (former Dublin player) and Aaron Kernan (former Armagh player, see below) dismissed the incident as a push.[19]

Related incidents include Paul Galvin's two-month ban for attacking the face of Eoin Cadogan in the 2010 Munster semi-final replay.[20][21]

Armagh v Galway (2022 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship): Incident picked up straight away on live television.[22][23][24] Former Tyrone All-Ireland SFC winner Owen Mulligan defended the eye-gouging.[25] Joe Brolly did not, he said: "The eye-gouger, no doubt, will get 12 months as a minimum… Possibly longer than that. It is a scandal to see that in our games, deeply depressing."[26][27] Even hurlers spoke out against it.[28] The incident was satirised by Waterford Whispers News.[29] Colm Keys wrote in the Irish Independent that "The stigma of the eye-gouge will follow Armagh around for some time".[30]

See also

References
  1. "Colm O'Rourke: The problem is simple — GAA rules are made to be broken". Sunday Independent. 3 July 2022.
  2. "Is This An Eye Gouge On Colm Cooper". Balls.ie. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  3. Fogarty, John (6 September 2013). "Dubs boss Gavin satisfied O'Carroll not guilty of gouging Cooper". Irish Examiner.
  4. Clerkin, Malachy (6 September 2013). "Jim Gavin rules out action against Rory O'Carroll". The Irish Times.
  5. Fogarty, John (3 September 2013). "O'Carroll in clear for final despite picture of poke". Irish Examiner.
  6. Farrell, Sinead (22 October 2015). "Kieran Donaghy Has Offered A Very Different Take On That Philly McMahon Incident". Balls.ie.
  7. "GDPR Consent". player.98fm.com.
  8. Blake, Ben (21 September 2015). "'We're grown men, we play a physical sport' — Philly McMahon on alleged eye-gouge". The42.ie.
  9. "Did McMahon eye gouge Donaghy?". Hogan Stand. 20 September 2015.
  10. McGuinness, Grainne (21 September 2015). "Sunday Game criticised for softly-softly analysis of McMahon/Donaghy incident". Irish Examiner.
  11. Rooney, Tom (7 November 2015). "Kieran Donaghy says he was eye-gouged by Philly McMahon". Independent.ie.
  12. Neville, Conor (9 November 2015). "Kieran Donaghy Accused Philly McMahon Of Eye-Gouging Him On The Pitch". Balls.ie.
  13. Maguire, Stephen (26 March 2016). "Controversy as Dublin player accused of eye-gouging Donegal star". Donegal Daily.
  14. "McCarthy in eye gouge storm". Hogan Stand. 26 March 2016.
  15. Foley, Alan (27 March 2016). "Did James McCarthy try to gouge Martin McElhinney?".
  16. Maguire, Stephen (30 March 2016). "Donegal suuporters angry as Dublin star set to avoid ban". Donegal Daily.
  17. "Jim Gavin downplays 'unfair' gouge accusations levelled at James McCarthy". Irish Independent. 28 March 2016.
  18. Byrne, Cormac (28 March 2016). "GAA must investigate the James McCarthy 'eye gouge' incident… There is a case to answer". Irish Independent.
  19. "Dublin's James McCarthy Could Be In Massive Trouble After This Alleged Eye Gouge". Pundit Arena. 26 March 2016.
  20. Keys, Colm (15 June 2010). "Galvin faces two month ban". Irish Independent.
  21. "Galvin facing two months on the sidelines". JOE.ie. 2010.
  22. "Spillane condemns 'disgraceful' Armagh-Galway brawl". RTÉ. 26 June 2022.
  23. "The Sunday Game panel react to scenes of striking and apparent eye-gouging in the aftermath of the full-time whistle in Croke Park". The Sunday Game. 26 June 2022.
  24. "Pat Spillane rips into Galway and Armagh for giant brawl". 26 June 2022.
  25. "Former Tyrone Legend Tries to Defend the Eye Gouge & Receives Some Vile Abuse". 28 June 2022.
  26. Connaughton, Gary (28 June 2022). "Joe Brolly Slams Armagh 'Culture' After Unsavoury Galway Scenes". Balls.ie.
  27. Sheahan, Fionnán; Breslin, Aoife (28 June 2022). "'They are out of control' – Joe Brolly criticises Armagh players over melee at Croke Park". Irish Independent.
  28. "Former Tipperary Legend Speaks Out About the 'Disgusting' Eye Gouge". 26 June 2022.
  29. "Hero Armagh Player Intervenes To Put Contact Lens Back In For Galway Player". Waterford Whispers News. 27 June 2022.
  30. "Colm Keys: The stigma of the eye-gouge will follow Armagh around for some time". Irish Independent. 27 June 2022.
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