[gaelic football] irish incensed at australian ‘thugs’

Australia-Ireland International Rules football is in doubt after a violent contest marred last night's 38-point Australian victory. Irish team manager Sean Boylan accused the team of “thuggery” in the spiteful contest, which left Ireland's Graham Geraghty in hospital and saw Australian captain Barry Hall and Irish captain Kieran McGeeney both sent off in front of a sellout crowd of more than 82,000 at Dublin's Croke Park. However Irish officials are fuming after several fights broke out in the first quarter, including one before the starting siren sounded. Boylan claims the Australians deliberately targeted their players, and was ready to call off the match at quarter time. Gaelic Athletic Association marketing manager Dermot Power said the entire series was now in doubt. “Quite a lot of people think we shouldn’t be doing it. Quite a lot of them think we should concentrate on our own games. Quite a lot of people feel that it’s not fair to put amateurs out against professionals.'' The Australians were just thugs. Poor Ireland – they don’t like it when the thuggery is against them. Who would Britain support in this one?