Matty Forde

[bandage]

I won't defend what he did because it looked bad but the more I think about it the more annoyed I am at what they got away with too.

I thought Forde was immense in the second half. A lot of people complained about his lack of involvement in the first half, the reason was he was being held, pulled and dragged off the ball with the referee only spotting this once and giving us a free in straight in front of the posts even though we had possession way out the field. In other words he was being prevented from making runs into space and getting on the ball by illegal and cynical means. What do umpires do all game?

As for the card count, they received a red and 4/5 yellows as opposed to our 1/2 yellows and that guy that got stood on was sent off against Westmeath in a previous round for persistent fouling. I hate when inferior players get away with taking somebody like Forde out of the game and the referee gives them no protection. What he did was wrong but what I will say is how wonderful it was to watch him in the last 20 minutes raise his game to another level despite the vitriol, bile and aggression shown towards him both in the stands and on the pitch. I am proud to be from the same county as him.

It seems flair players are being targeted in a lot of field sports of late as the stakes become higher and higher. This needs to be stamped out but not in the manner Matty went about it on Sunday. Still I would rather watch his vast array of skills on Saturday rather than join those climbing up onto the high moral ground to stick the knife into him.

It will be interesting against Monaghan though because in the equivalent qualifier game up there last year they gave him a fair bit of abuse off the ball also and Forde was booked for reacting to it. They're likely to get in his face, goad him and try to intimidate him. If he performs in spite of this and the trial by media he's had to put up with since Sunday then he will go up to Liam Dunne levels in my estimation. I hope he fooking sews it into them.

[pagey]

Bandage you shouldn't be making excuses. Even though they may have gotten away with a lot of things during the match and the Offaly player got sent off against WestMeath as you have mentioned above that does not justify what he did. Perhaps it was a moment of madness and everyone would agree that he is a very talented player but he still has to get banned. It will teach him that in the future he will have to let the refs take charge of the matches and not take it into his own hands. If as you say the ref is giving star players like Forde no protection then perhaps the standard of referees should be addressed.

[steamboatsam]

Unfortunately its a symptom of the cynical times we live in that average journeymen players will do everything they know they can get away with in order to stop superior players from giving them an inevitable roasting. It's a crying shame that the GAA persists using people (Umpires) who have absolutely no qualifications to do one of the most crucial jobs in officiating. These old fogeys in tweed caps delight at the prospect of free entry to the game, free transport and a free meal afterwards and are too busy enjoying the game to care about any off the ball antics that inevitably go on between the full back and full forward lines in any game of consequence.

Unfortunately the issue of off the ball treatment not being clamped down on and a player standing on another's head are different debates - of course he should be banned. It was a despicable act and one that a player of his ability has no need to carry out. He can hurt the opposition far more by simply displaying his talents like he did in the final 20mins of Sunday's game. He's also given the Monaghan boys more incentive to wind him up as given the media hysteria the spotlight will be on him and the officials will feel obliged to act on his slightest indiscretion.

It's another ridiculous indictment of the GAA that Forde's case won't even be discussed until next week because some pack of idiots aren't bothered travelling to Dublin until next week. Will someone please tell them they can claim double the mileage if they meet this week and again next week.

[bandage]

I like the way I said I wasn't going to defend him and then I did anyway. Apparently he got an absolute doing on the local airwaves over the past few days in their Monday and Tuesday morning post championship review programmes. This is taken from today's INDO:

'UNDER instruction from the Wexford management, Matty Forde remained tightlipped over the stamping incident involving Offaly's Shane Sullivan.

But his sister Lena took to the local airwaves in Wexford to defend the record of the county's only football All Star who has sharpened opinion with his actions in Sunday's four-point Leinster semi-final defeat.

Speaking on South East radio's morning magazine show, she hit out at Wexford supporters who were critical of Forde's act on the same programme a day earlier and accused them of having "very, very short memories."

She said she was only speaking on her own behalf, but added that Matty had indicated to her that there was no intent in what happened.

Stepping up her defence she recalled how she spoke to her brother after the tempestuous second test in Melbourne last October when he himself was the victim of a thuggish assault by the Australian Chris Johnson.

"He told me he was black and blue, but that he would do it all again," she recalled.

She added that Matty had shaken hands with Shane Sullivan after the game and had traded jerseys with the Offaly defender who was on the receiving end of his boot.

The programme also featured an interview with Liam Dunne, himself no stranger to disciplinary controversy in Croke Park, who offered the view that star players in a host of field sports were being increasingly targeted.

The Wexford management are apparently keen that Forde stays quiet on the incident until they see what action, if any, that the GAA's disciplinary arm, will take.

Forde will be able to play for Wexford in their next championship match, a qualifier against Monaghan in Clones.'

I fooking knew Liam Dunne would be in to defend him. Legend. Close ranks, shut up and whip up a frenzy against Monaghan now.

[therock67]

Haven't seen the incident (other than a still photo) but I'd like to comment anyway:

1. obviously he should be banned irrespective of provocation.
2. skillful players are indeed targeted and the refereeing and (particularly) umpiring needs to be improved. When you watch Francie Bellew play you see him stamp on the forward's toes the whole game. He'd cut that out if it was a free in front of the posts every time.
3. wexford should be creating a siege mentality and using the hype to hammer monaghan.
4. gaa's red tape is a joke.

[humbug]

I will be keeping a close eye on this thread. For the moment I will just say that I will be extremely disappointed with the GAA if Mattie Forde gets anything less than a three month ban for what he did.

[bandage]

Watched the GAA Show on Setanta last night for the Matty Forde debate and because it would have been the first time I’d seen the incident sober. (I was locked when I woke up on Sunday and the pre match pints only served as a top up). He does not look at the guy he stands on and Diarmuid O’Flynn of The Examiner admitted this but said that doesn’t excuse it because ‘if you’re tip toeing over rocks or something you don’t necessarily need to look directly down at them to know where they are’. Fair enough you might say but I’ve misjudged kerbs before and nearly fell over because I wasn’t looking straight down at them! I spoke to Bandage senior later on and he’s convinced he has no case to answer at all. Val Andrews was very non-committal – you could tell he disapproved but he’s Leinster Railway Cup manager and knows Forde very well so didn’t really put the boot in. What he did say was that it was very unfair on all parties, Forde included, that the process was taking this long. He’s still being vilified all over the papers today and I think all of us would agree that this should have been dealt with on Monday or Tuesday evening. I take the point about using the siege mentality to get stuck into Monaghan, they are fresh however and we gave everything in a failed attempt last Sunday. It’s going to be extremely tough.

[bandage]

Wexford shall not be naming a team as per the norm and releasing it to the press ahead of the game tomorrow. This is to avoid another media frenzy that would be guaranteed to be whipped up were Forde's name to appear on the list. We will only find out the team when the players take their positions on the park - Forde will play though. This will be interesting. What are Wexford in Paddy Power gents? If it's another 11/4 like against Meath then my child maintenance will be going on them.

[steamboatsam]

bandage said:

Wexford shall not be naming a team as per the norm and releasing it to the press ahead of the game tomorrow. This is to avoid another media frenzy that would be guaranteed to be whipped up were Forde's name to appear on the list. We will only find out the team when the players take their positions on the park - Forde will play though. This will be interesting. What are Wexford in Paddy Power gents? If it's another 11/4 like against Meath then my child maintenance will be going on them.

7/4, not quite as generous. slightly better with VC at 15/8

[bandage]

The Purple and Gold:

A father and son
They stood hand in hand
As they watched Wexford play
From the back of the stand
And the words that he said
I'll hear when I'm old
It is a beauty to behold
When you see the purple and gold

Oh the purple and gold
Is my heart and my soul
From the men of today
To the heroes of old
Oh the purple and gold
Is a dream I still hold
It was a privilege I was told
To wear the purple and gold

I can still see them now
On the All Ireland day
The Rackards stood proud
By God could they play
And the Quigleys stood tall
Every man brave and bold
It is a beauty to behold
When you see the purple and gold

Oh the purple and gold
Is my heart and my soul
From the men of today
To the heroes of old
Oh the purple and gold
Is a dream I still hold
It was a privilege I was told
To wear the purple and gold (x2)

Fade out and scream.

Come on the bhoys of Wexford. Do me fooking proud. Anyone who barracks Matty Forde will be getting an earful from me. Just turned down free into Oxegen to go defend my county and one of my heros.

[bandage]

Where to start? What a fooking day, I'll start at the beginning and proceed from there until I reach the end and then I'll stop.

1. The further north we headed the worse the weather became. Dressed in our jerseys for sunny south east weather we regretted the folly of our ways. Maybe old people who spend 17 hours a day talking about the weather and checking the forecast are correct after all.

2. What would the team be? With no announcement being made pre-match the debate raged as to what way we'd line up. Would we try some corrective action in the full back line? What about the forwards that didn't really fire the last day? The conditions also needed to be considered - it was a day for real fooking men. Before the game we knew we were going into a cauldron, the conditions guaranteed it was going to be a fooking war. Yes, a physical presence was required.

3. Arrived in Clones in time for a couple of pre match pints. A decent Wexford presence around which was good to see. Got a few free tickets off a Wexford guy standing outside the ground who had spares and was waiting for the first Wexford jerseys he happened upon. One of the good things about the GAA. Fook was the weather bad at this stage. We went through the turnstiles and braced ourselves. It was all to play for now.

4. As we got in we strolled down along the walk way behind the stand and we heard ferocious noise up ahead. I said to one of the lads, 'that's fookin Bealo's voice' and so it was. Yes, the dressing rooms in Clones are deep beneath the bowels of the stand. There are very high windows that you can't see through and the players emerge out onto the pitch through a different door at the front but we huddled up beneath the window behind the stand to listen to Bealo's final talk. And what a talk it was. It had the hairs standing on the back of my neck and tears in my eyes. As more and more people realised what was going on there was a little crowd formed listening to it and other people who were coming in and jovially chatting in their groups were asked to quieten down and they all joined the huddle. A selection of his stuff is as follows:

5. 'We've been written off by everyone after last week. Our season is over they say. We're not going to let all the fooking work we've done count for nothing. I fooking demand that our season starts today. I know we are not fooking finished in this championship. Are we fooking finished? Players' chorus: No!). Damn right we're not fooking finished but you don't need me to tell you it'll be fooking tough out there. Look at the conditions, we'll need to be men today, we must fooking stand up to everything they throw at us. They're an improving side, they expect to fooking win. Did you see what that bastard Seamus McEneaney said in the papers today? Did you see what that little bastard said? (I didn't see what he said by the way). We're going to give him his fooking answer out there today. Are we going to shut that little fooker up? (Players' chorus: Yes!). Right let's talk about Matty. There's going to be 5,000 of these fooking bastards out there going mental every time he gets near the ball. Their fooking players will spit on him, box him, punch him, pinch him, goad him and what the fook are we going to do about it? Are we going to take a step back and leave him to fooking fend for himself? Well, are we fooking going to do that? (Players' chorus: No!) No, we're fooking not. Because when that shit happens we're all fooking in there to defend him. We will not take a step back. We will take no fooking steps back today. None. We will not fooking lose this game. Does our season end today? (Players' chorus: No!) We're going to win this fooking game. I don't fooking care how but we're going to win this fooking game. Are we going to win this fooking game (Players' chorus: Yes!)' I love a GAA dressing room speech. A few cliches about being written off, bringing up the disparaging comments from the opposition and emphasised the siege mentality and togetherness of the team. It was powerful stuff all the same and left us wanting to go through brick walls. I was ready for a game of championship football then.

6. We had made 4 changes. Young Brian Malone in for Colm Morris at corner back, Eric Bradley in at midfield with Diarmuid Kinsella reverting to centre forward and Paddy Colfer dropping out, Shane Cullen in for David Fogarty at wing forward and John Hudson in for Liam Murphy at corner forward. It was great to see Bradley back from injury, one of the best underage footballers we ever produced and lynchpin of the minor team that took Dublin to a replay in the 1999 Leinster Final - he'd been in NYC for the last few years.

7. The game started in atrocious conditions and it soon became apparent it was going to be a battle of wills. Who wanted it more? Who was going to go that extra mile? Who was willing to suffer more to get it done? There was off the ball stuff going on all over the pitch as players from both teams sought to lay down markers. The same player that marked Forde last year and spent most of the game pinching him and stepping on his toes came out to pick him up. I braced myself. Forde's name was greeted with boos before the game when the teams were read out over the tannoys. His first touch resulted in overcarrying and a free out, a few of their backs ran in and gave him a few manly shoulders. Eric Bradley and Rory Stafford were straight in grabbing lads by the neck and Stafford fired one of their defenders on the ground. We were not fooking standing back.

8. Forde was 'a dirty rotten bastard', a 'fooking scumbag', 'a dirty rotten fooking animal', 'a fooking tramp' any time he got on the ball and great cheers erupted early on when chasing a long ball over the top the keeper came out and Harald Schumachered him. The referee frantically called for medical attention and Forde was motionless. 'Well done Duffy, now stamp on the fooker's head while you're at it.' said a bloke a few rows back. 'Shut the fook up. He could have a serious injury' I replied. They were beginning to rile me. After a long period of treatment Forde groggily got to his feet. He definitely wants to play. He's not looking for the easy option we agreed.

9. It was apparent that Staff and Bradley were lording it in midfield but we were playing against a strong wind with the rain belting into our faces. It was tough to get anything on target at that end. They got down for 2 points, one apiece for their two dangermen Finlay and Freeman. There was about 15 minutes gone.

10. Then Forde clicked into gear. He knocked over a smashing free from distance into the wind and then kicked a superb point from 35 yards from a difficult angle that enraged their supporters. Kinsella carried the ball forward, Forde came out on the loop, Kinsella transferred the ball to Forde and as Forde's man followed, Kinsella left out his elbow and the guy ran straight into it and was panned out on the ground. Forde then launched that fooking beauty of a point. It was game on now.

11. It was tit for tat for the rest of the half. Skipper Ciaran Deely was having a phenomenal game at wing forward hoovering up all the breaks and really carrying the game to them as was Red Barry at wing back who was mopping up everything. Forde kicked two more points, one from play and they went in at 4 each after an absorbing half of football. The intensity and the hitting, legitimate or otherwise, was immense. This was a proper game of football.

12. We were very satisfied considering we had played against the elements and were on top in midfield We had also looked more dangerous up front since Paddy Colfer came on at full forward for the lighter PJ Banville. It was a game for physical presence and hopefully he'd break down some ball for Forde in the second half. The only question was would the effects of playing only 6 days previously count against us. We remained confident though.

13. Freeman got in around the back for a fisted point straight after half time but their momentum was quickly halted by a smashing Eric Bradley point from distance. We were on top in midfield still and our workrate, tackling and support play was absolutely outstanding. It was time we kicked on and began to see our superiority reflected on the scoreboard. We couldn't contemplate losing a game we had dominated for the second week in succession.

14. Paraic Curtis who was driving forward from wing back went straight through for a one on one with the keeper who made a smashing save. Forde's resultant 45 sailed wide and I worried that we weren't putting them away while on top but from the resultant kick out Brian Malone somehow found himself bearing down on goal and was hauled down with Forde tapping over the free. Forde then kicked a sublime point from play and gave the fists up to the stand who had been barracking him all day - they were sickened but they responded with more abuse. Kinsella then kicked the best point of the game with the outside of his foot after a sweeping move from our own full back line. We were playing fantastic football considering the conditions. 8-5 with about 15 minutes left.

15. But fook was it a fight. There were brawls erupting all around the field. Colfer and the full back were boxing the heads off each other, the referee went in to book them and another fight had started back out the field. The referee ran back out to stop that one and the two boys proceeded to continue boxing the heads off each other before he came back in to show them their yellows! Niall Murphy had decked Tomas Freeman. Rory Stafford spent the whole game digging Dick Clerkin and the crowd were going ballistic all game. The guy's just a powerhouse. Their best player, Eoin Lennon, was called ashore such was Eric Bradley's domination of midfield and things were looking good especially since Finlay was dismissed for a second yellow. Red Barry took up the free role he performs so expertly and continued to master everything he surveyed.

16. They had one last surge and kicked a point from a free. Bradley was sent off for a second yellow in conceding it. He had been booked previously for boxing Eoin Lennon in the head. Yes, it was an absolute dogfight. But we comfortably saw out the last five minutes through keeping possession with our short passing and support game. They didn't once threaten the goal. After 3 minutes of injury time the long whistle sounded - we had done it - 8-6. The bench as one ran onto the pitch, the Wexford contingent surged down to the front of the stand by the tunnel and the players danced, hugged and celebrated like we had just won our first silverware in 60 years. The scenes were fooking fantastic and the support gave the players a massive ovation. They in turn were loving it and orchestrating the celebrations in the stand. We had answered some serious questions of ourselves.

17. All six backs were immense, the two lads in midfield bossed what is a strong Monaghan pairing and up front Deely, Kinsella and Forde did their stuff. I was delighted for Forde after the week he had and it was emotional watching himself and Bealo embracing at the end. I then thought of Bealo's speech before the game, the conversation I had with Rory Stafford last week when he vowed they would not be beaten. I was some fooking proud of those lads. We are back in the mixer. We will take on all comers. We are Wexford. Wexford blood won't let you down. Our blood won't let us down. Le croi agus lamh.

[briantinnion]

Email that to the Guardian/Wexford People and get it published. Great stuff.

[humbug]

How do you do the quote thing where you quote two different people in the same reply?

Anyway, Bandage said Forde was getting pulled and dragged off the ball. What do you expect? It's a part of the game. Forwards do it as much as backs. It's not soccer or basketball. It's football.

Forde's sister said Forde shook hands with Sullivan after the match. I don't know what this has to do with it. Players always shake hands no matter what happens in the game.

Some of you have said that he is unfairly targeted because he is a big name. That same big name will stand to him when the punishment is handed down. If a Wicklow player did that he would get six months.

I think it's wrong to call what he did a stamp. He stood on him. I still hopes he gets at least three months though.

[therock67]

humbug said:

How do you do the quote thing where you quote two different people in the same reply?

I love the ambition humbug. 3 months to get to hang of the quote button and already you want more.

Quotes are done by the following: (substitute square brakcets for the pointy brackets I used)

{quote}put in your quote here{/quote}

Then you can have more text that's not in a quote

{quote}then some more text in a quote again}

Clicking the quote button automatically puts quote tags around the whole post so you can just delete the parts that you don't want to quote and then put in another quote later.

humbug said:

Anyway, Bandage said Forde was getting pulled and dragged off the ball. What do you expect? It's a part of the game. Forwards do it as much as backs. It's not soccer or basketball. It's football.

Forde's sister said Forde shook hands with Sullivan after the match. I don't know what this has to do with it. Players always shake hands no matter what happens in the game.

Some of you have said that he is unfairly targeted because he is a big name. That same big name will stand to him when the punishment is handed down. If a Wicklow player did that he would get six months.

I think it's wrong to call what he did a stamp. He stood on him. I still hopes he gets at least three months though.

I still haven't seen the Forde incident - what did ye make of O'Rourke's kicking out yesterday?

[humbug]

admin said:

humbug said:

How do you do the quote thing where you quote two different people in the same reply?

I love the ambition humbug. 3 months to get to hang of the quote button and already you want more.

Quotes are done by the following: (substitute square brakcets for the pointy brackets I used)

{quote}put in your quote here{/quote}

Then you can have more text that's not in a quote

{quote}then some more text in a quote again}

Clicking the quote button automatically puts quote tags around the whole post so you can just delete the parts that you don't want to quote and then put in another quote later.

humbug said:

Anyway, Bandage said Forde was getting pulled and dragged off the ball. What do you expect? It's a part of the game. Forwards do it as much as backs. It's not soccer or basketball. It's football.

Forde's sister said Forde shook hands with Sullivan after the match. I don't know what this has to do with it. Players always shake hands no matter what happens in the game.

Some of you have said that he is unfairly targeted because he is a big name. That same big name will stand to him when the punishment is handed down. If a Wicklow player did that he would get six months.

I think it's wrong to call what he did a stamp. He stood on him. I still hopes he gets at least three months though.

I still haven't seen the Forde incident - what did ye make of O'Rourke's kicking out yesterday?

Martin O'Rourke of Armagh? Missed that one.

[briantinnion]

In case anyone missed Matty's accidental stepping on Shane Sullivan it's now up on Youtube:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkbKylX6J4g&search=matty%20forde

[bandage]

The CDC brought their meeting forward from Wednesday to last night and reviewed the Forde incident. No details have emerged yet but it is widely speculated that they’ll call him up for a personal hearing prior to the weekend so it appears likely that there’ll be a decision one way or the other before the Fermanagh game on Saturday night. I urge all Wexford followers, all football followers and all those interested in justice and fair play to go to Croke Park on whatever night the hearing is convened to support Matty and stand shoulder to shoulder with him as this despicable character assassination continues for a second week. We can make it a freekick event and hand out flyers for the site too. It would be great publicity for the site if we all have banners and are singing chants in support of Forde. I’m off to think of some lyrics.

In reply to humbug from another thread I mentioned Forde there as lyonsee asked me more or less what I thought of the Zidane incident given my staunch defence of Forde.

[iamthelaw]

bandage said:

He does not look at the guy he stands on and Diarmuid O’Flynn of The Examiner admitted this

Just cos some lad from the Cork Times says it doesn't make it true. Check out the youtube link bandage, he's looking down at sullivan until his foot's about 6 inches away from his head, and pointed in the right direction.

[briantinnion]

This is from today's Irish Independent and I reckon it's fairly clear from this that we'll be without Matty on Saturday.



Campbell in the soup as GAA prepares for a video backlash

Wednesday July 12th 2006

MATTY Forde has been called up to answer a disciplinary charge but another inter-county footballer has also been called to book after an extraordinary twist in the GAA's latest disciplinary saga. Donegal defender Paddy Campbell has also been called to account for his actions on the basis of video evidence, even though his transgression occurred almost a full four weeks ago.

It looks like the GAA are covering themselves in the Forde case by taking retrospective action against Campbell, whose actions were also caught on camera two weeks earlier.

The Glenties player, who lined out for Donegal in last Sunday's Ulster final, struck Enda Muldoon in the groin in the Ulster semi-final on June 18.

It was not spotted by the match referee and even though Muldoon argued that he had been severely provoked by the Donegal defender, no action was taken against him at the time.

Muldoon was banned for striking and it looked like Campbell was going to escape censure, so much so that he actually publicly admitted to and apologised for the below-the-belt strike last week.

But Donegal, who play in the fourth round of the All-Ireland Qualifiers on July 29, were left reeling yesterday when they got an email from Croke Park, telling Campbell to appear before the Central Disciplinary Committee next Wednesday. This indicates he is being charged on the basis of video evidence, probably to cover the CDC in the Forde case.

If they ban Forde on the basis of video evidence but did not do the same to Campbell, whose transgression was also widely replayed on television, the Wexford forward could argue that the disciplinary system was applied unequally.

Forde's call to appear before the CDC comes as no surprise but it is believed that they have offered him a hearing as early as tonight to try to expedite the matter.

It is nine days since Wexford played Offaly and in the disciplinary hiatus since Forde played and starred against Monaghan last weekend and his side play Fermanagh in the third round next Saturday.

Cliona Foley


© www.unison.ie/

[bandage]

iamthelaw said:

bandage said:

He does not look at the guy he stands on and Diarmuid O’Flynn of The Examiner admitted this

Just cos some lad from the Cork Times says it doesn't make it true. Check out the youtube link bandage, he's looking down at sullivan until his foot's about 6 inches away from his head, and pointed in the right direction.

I was not implying O'Flynn's opinion was fact. I was merely repeating the main points from the debate on the show. I have seen the incident on numerous occasions now and it's my own opinion that he doesn't have a case to answer. To be honest I don't place much reliance on Irish GAA journalists because frankly I struggle to think of any decent one.

It's not a stamp, his foot lands on him and he's not looking at him. I agree with briantinnion that he'll be made a scapegoat and will be missing for Saturday. Another opportunity to close ranks and use the siege mentality again and prove we're a good side without him. We need to call on the spirit of Crossmaglen 2004.

[bandage]

Forde had his personal hearing last night and is awating a verdict. Donegal are going mental that the CDC have now called up Paddy Campbell for the incident where he gave Enda Muldoon a little flick/dig to the balls and Muldoon responded by boxing him in the ribs and getting sent off. Because this incident which happened a week or two before the Forde one could be viewed in some quarters as a precedent they have slyly gone back and called him up for a hearing even though the incident happened a month ago at this stage. This I suppose is to prevent those pleading Forde's case to cite the Campbell incident and to question why they are selectively viewing these cases on video. I didn't see it but apparently The Sunday Game compared both incidents the other night and debated the inconsistency and the argument Forde could then potentially use. Then the CDC responded by 'coincidentally' calling up Campbell.

Talk about slyly covering their backs. It's just plain ridiculous. In that case how far back do they plan to go? Back as far as April? May? June? They are making a mockery of the game and one of its finest exponents. Forde better not be banned.

[tommymoore]

Forde better get at least 3 months. If he doesn't get punished for what he did it's a complete joke.

[bandage]

Just got a Forde update from an undercover but reliable source. I was incorrect earlier - Matty was invited to attend a hearing last night but declined on legal advice. The CDC have since requested that he attend a hearing tomorrow night (Friday). Again based on legal advice Forde is unlikely to attend. Both Wexford officials and their legal advisors obviously think Forde will not receive a fair hearing due to the witch hunt in the media where he has already been tried and convicted. Furthermore it appears they do not have any faith or confidence in those on the CDC to deliver justice given that they are just a collection of old suits out for their mileage and meals. Instead their legal advisors have been directly in contact with the DRA (Disputes Resolution Authority) who are the next and final piece of the jigsaw. This body is made up of independent lawyers and their say is final. It is now probable that Forde will be banned in his absence tomorrow night and so Wexford and their legal team have provisionally sought to have the DRA hear the case on Saturday morning if this eventuality occurs so that there is a chance for any potential ban to be overturned prior to the game on Saturday evening. Wexford remain thoroughly confident Forde will play given that he has done absolutely nothing wrong and absolutely everything right (1-25 from 3 games is just 'great').

[iamthelaw]

bandage said:

Donegal are going mental that the CDC have now called up Paddy Campbell for the incident where he gave Enda Muldoon a little flick/dig to the balls and Muldoon responded by boxing him in the ribs and getting sent off. Because this incident which happened a week or two before the Forde one could be viewed in some quarters as a precedent they have slyly gone back and called him up for a hearing even though the incident happened a month ago at this stage. This I suppose is to prevent those pleading Forde's case to cite the Campbell incident and to question why they are selectively viewing these cases on video. I didn't see it but apparently The Sunday Game compared both incidents the other night and debated the inconsistency and the argument Forde could then potentially use. Then the CDC responded by 'coincidentally' calling up Campbell.

Talk about slyly covering their backs. It's just plain ridiculous.

Hear hear. The two incidents aren't comparable, except that both seemed intentional. One could have caused serious injury (guess which).

though i believe both deserve bans, & further to previous posts on this site i'd like to see a camera on The Rock (the player not the forum member) for Cork's next hurling game.

It'd be nice if an amateur game that's therefore supposedly about the honour of victory actually showed a bit of honour and honesty. I suppose my chances of seeing that are at least increased by the fact that the Ulster Championship is over.

[bandage]

Another reason to hate bookies. I went to investigate the price of Wexford tomorrow at lunch time and was told by Paddy Power staff that they are not opening the book on the Wexford - Fermanagh game until they get a definitive verdict on the Forde case. I was told without Forde Wexford would be around 7/2 but with him 11/8 with Fermanagh being 2/5 and 4/5 in each scenario. The gutless fooks should really go with a midpoint value if they have to. Like there's many cases where team news is clouded by injuries - this just happens to be a disciplinary issue but so what. They should have the book open no question - another case of the customer being treated unfairly.

Cork are still 4/1 to beat Kerry which is interesting and may prompt further investigation on my part. Also Meath are 6/4 at home to Laois (4/6) - I think Meath will beat them at home despite Laois' performance last week.