“That’s not just handbags, there is a lot of really serious punches being thrown in that thing…”
The storm lent Dublin and Tyrone every excuse for a scrappy, feisty affair in Healy Park, Omagh, but to each and every player’s credit, the game was high quality and it was played in good spirits.
There were some stunning scores kicked in the first half in particular from the boots of Peter Harte and Ryan Basquel and it was the skills in the dreadful conditions that stood out, rather than the needle or aggression.
But then, running down the tunnel at half-time, it all boiled over. The cameras were late to the scene but when they arrived, there was an almighty scrap taking place under the stand involving members of the Dublin and Tyrone teams.
Things got feisty down the tunnel pic.twitter.com/PSIjKzUCbB
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) February 29, 2020
These were unsavoury scenes involving a number of players, but the referee dealt with it all by issuing Tyrone player Padraig Hampsey with a black card upon the resumption. Whether it was a black or a yellow card offence is up for debate, but there’s no denying that scenes like these should have no place in our games.
Black card ⬛
Padraig Hampsey has received a black card for his participation in the brawl before half time!#GAA #AllianzLeagues #MatchNightLive pic.twitter.com/sWhJYwLhlc
— eir Sport (@eirSport) February 29, 2020
Speaking on RTÉ’s coverage, Colm O’Rourke condemned the row, before landing a classic O’Rourke one-liner.
“That’s not just handbags, there is a lot of really serious punches being thrown in that thing. I’d say there’s some fellas going to have sore jaws tomorrow.
“Dublin and Tyrone, they don’t like each other but that is really serious stuff…that’s Tyson Furey stuff going on there…”
“That sort of needle and edge is in every Dublin v Tyrone game. Now Tyrone may be completely innocent in this, but generally they’re not, but Dublin are well able to look after themselves”
"Now Tyrone may be completely innocent in this, but generally they're not" – Colm O'Rourke.
He was joking btw 😂 pic.twitter.com/mi15cuV5ao
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) February 29, 2020
Tomás Ó Sé also said it was ‘shocking’ to see antics like these.
“That’s shocking, there’s swiping going on in there…you don’t know who started it but it was players, because the players go in first. That’s disgraceful.
“There was swiping and it’s wreckless, it’s wrong, something obviously happened going down the tunnel,” he said.
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