Jim McGuinness fears for players’ health and safety

The physicality of Gaelic football should not be confused with bursting an ear drum, repeated concussion, or a 5cm tear down the side of the leg. Just in case there was still some confusion.

Jim McGuinness believes some people still can’t tell the difference. If his Donegal team are to defend their All-Ireland football title – and there should be less confusion about that after next Sunday’s quarter final against Mayo, a rematch of last year’s final – then he’d rather do it without seeing any players carted off to hospital in the process.

It’s what happened to his star forward Mark McHugh after last weekend’s Ulster final defeat to Monaghan, and might well have happened again in Carrick-on-Shannon on Saturday evening had McGuinness not intervened, visibly roaring at the sideline official, at least once, demanding his players be given more protection in their fourth round qualifier against Laois (and at the same time being pushed away by Laois manager Justin McNulty).

“I would be fearful that our players are going to end up on the receiving end of something that’s going to cause everybody a lot of pain, and it’s just not worth it, if it goes to that point,” said McGuinness – his post-match reaction on Saturday evening sounding more like a public service announcement.

Major concussion
"Because I am not happy that we have a player (McHugh) with a burst ear drum. I am not happy he had a major concussion. I am not happy that he has a five centimetre tear in his quad muscle as a result of the impact.

“I am not happy that he spent two nights in hospital. I am not happy that he has missed a full week off work.

“For me, we are in a very dangerous position and I would fear that something is going to happen. My biggest fear is a spinal injury or a neck injury. He (McHugh) also shipped a very, very heavy tackle in the All-Ireland final. We have to create a situation where we feel that it is okay to send players out on the pitch.

“We are not afraid of physicality. But Mark McHugh’s injury last week was our fourth concussion in three games. (Ryan McHugh, Ryan Bradley, and Declan Walsh being the others). Four concussions in three games? I would imagine the Munster or Leinster rugby fellas wouldn’t have that level.”

McGuinness was also clear this wasn’t some delayed reaction to the Ulster final defeat - and that Monaghan “fully deserved their win”.

Yet that was viewed by some as a case of Donegal being beaten at their own game, and even though Donegal themselves took physicality to fresh heights last year, McGuinness believes he is not confusing the issue.

“Again, we’re not afraid of physicality. But there’s a difference between physicality and what’s happening at certain times. That is where the danger element comes in. I played for Donegal for many years, and no matter how hard I shouldered, I never burst an eardrum, or knocked anyone concussed, or put a five cm tear in a leg. For me it doesn’t add up.

“There were a lot of incidents out there (against Laois) where players were trying to get up the field, and were stopped. All I can do is give you the facts, and relay to you that there is a fear and anxiety as a manager. You don’t want a situation where there’s going to be a very serious injury. It’s going to happen, and I hope that everyone that is involved with the consequences can live with that. Because I know I won’t be able to.”

'Duty of care'
"There's a black card on the way, and I never criticise the referee. But there's a duty of care to your players.

“And I would be fearful that our players are going to end up on the receiving end of something, that’s going to cause everybody a lot of pain. That is the one thing I do not want to happen. I don’t want to preside over it either.

“The only thing that matters to me is the players. We’ve worked hard, had great experiences together, and you don’t want a situation where there’s going to be a very serious injury. And we’re not far away from that happening. Let’s see what happens.”

McNulty wasn’t being drawn into the rights or wrongs of such physicality, although he more or less laughed off the incident with McGuinness, 27 minutes into the game, when he twice pushed the Donegal aside – with quite impressive physicality, it has to be said.

“Just fun and games,” said McNulty. “Jim was just trying to go down and intimidate the linesman on a decision, which he maybe shouldn’t have done. I told him to get back up his own end of the pitch. Simple as that.”