In today’s Hospital Pass, we consider Anthony Masterson’s reprieve and an injection of common sense in the CCCC.
Think about the Anthony Masterson situation for a moment.
The Wexford goalkeeper spoke moments after the most controversial championship exit of the year. He said things from that place where you can usually say anything you want: the heat of the moment.
A few days later, as the dust settled only to reveal a judging panel and disciplinary measures coming fast over the horizon, Masterson issued an apology in a bid to avoid an eight-week suspension.
And that apology worked, with news today that the GAA has decided to shelve any pending punishment for bringing the Association into disrepute.
The whole thing is a couple of rungs short of satisfactory, though. Has a precedent been set whereby you can criticise everyone and everything and avoid the rap on the knuckles by saying sorry? And has the GAA just been shown to be completely toothless in the face of the type of comments that clearly bathe the entire body in a negative light?
Or maybe they should just go and fix the problem of dire refereeing, although how you do that without someone finding a cure to the strange ailment of “lack of common sense” we’re not entirely sure.
Common sense
But wait, there’s hope on that front. Because clearly the good folk in the Central Competitions Control Committee have had an injection of common sense over the last few years.
It was announced today that Kerry and Mayo will wear alternative jerseys in the All-Ireland semi-final on Sunday week, with the Kingdom again in blue and the boys from the wesht having a special set of county goalkeeper jerseys manufactured as they dress themselves up in red for the occasion.
All of which marks a welcome departure from the situation which transpired the last time the sides met in the Championship. That was in the 2006 All-Ireland final, when Croke Park was greener than a convention of cycling politicians.
