Pundits, politicians and supporters are calling for strict action to be taken by the GAA against on-pitch fighting in the wake of the Armagh-Galway fracas yesterday. Tiernan Kelly - an injured and non-playing member of the Armagh squad - appeared to put his fingers in the eyes of Galway's Damien Comer during a melee after the final whistle, causing a national furore.
Whoever has their fingers in Damien Comer's eye shouldn't be allowed near a pitch for a long time. pic.twitter.com/dxgONwcXIf
— Balls.ie (@ballsdotie) June 26, 2022
Armagh legend Oisin McConville had some interesting insight on the matter, and how Kelly has reacted in the aftermath of the incident.
SEE ALSO: Tense Exchange Between Kieran McGeeney And BBC Journo After Armagh Loss
McConville: 'The GAA will make a huge example of him'
Speaking on the Second Captains podcast, McConville said that Armagh should punish the player and "get in front of it " before the GAA do.
As much as Armagh want to distance themselves from it, they're still you know linked with it and you can't defend it so get out in front of it absolutely but I think the GAA will make a huge example out of him.
When asked about what sort of ban he can see Tiernan Kelly getting, McConville said "it could be six months".
McConville also said that Kelly is aware of the mistake he made and that he has already contacted the Galway team to apologise about the incident.
He's still a young lad like that's the thing I keep coming back to, we've all made mistakes. It's the heat of the moment, it's a mistake. He needs to learn his lesson and I don't know what the best way for us to do that is, but certainly he needs to be banned there's no point saying anything different.
I'd still worry for him as a young lad, I know what's happened since you know he's done everything that's expected of him. He's made contact with Galway. He's absolutely devastated and all them things but again I'm not excusing it, there's absolutely no excusing it.
I think his reaction is the right reaction rather than burying his head in the sand so he deserves some sort of credit for that but what he done unfortunately whether it be heat of the moment or not like you said it's indefensible.
The GAA are yet to announce the sort of action that they will be taking against Tiernan Kelly, but there's no doubt that it will have to be a serious ban in order to bring a halt to these sort of actions taking place on a pitch ever again.
You can listen to the full Second Captains podcast with Oisin McConville below.
SEE ALSO: Taoiseach And Minister For Sport Condemn Armagh Eye Gouge Incident
