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.

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. ↑ O'Rourke, Colm (3 July 2022). "The problem is simple — GAA rules are made to be broken". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  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. ↑ Healy, Martin (26 June 2022). "Pat Spillane rips into Galway and Armagh for giant brawl". extra.ie. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  25. ↑ "Former Tyrone Legend Tries to Defend the Eye Gouge & Receives Some Vile Abuse". benchwarmers.ie. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  26. ↑ Connaughton, Gary (28 June 2022). "Joe Brolly Slams Armagh 'Culture' After Unsavoury Galway Scenes". Balls.ie.
  27. ↑ Sheahan, Fionnán and 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. ↑ Keys, Colm (27 June 2022). "The stigma of the eye-gouge will follow Armagh around for some time". Irish Independent.
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