How long does it take to stop a nose bleeding?
No one is denying Laois centre-forward John O’Loughlin gave Michael Darragh Macauley an almighty dunt in the schnozz, but did it warrant 35 minutes of treatment?
In the 28th minute of Saturday evening’s Leinster SFC quarter-final in Nowlan Park, O’Loughlin was red carded for an off-the-ball incident with Dublin midfielder Macauley.
The Ballyboden man was replaced by three-time All-Ireland winner Denis Bastick, who most assumed was permanently replacing Macauley – until the former footballer of the year reappeared, 10 minutes into the second half.
Allowing for first half injury-time, a quarter of an hour, plus those 10 minutes, the Dublin midfielder was off the field for more than half an hour.
That is 35 minutes to rest, 35 minutes to recuperate. That is 20 minutes of playing time to observe the match from a different angle, 20 minutes of watching your opponents expending energy on a warm June evening
Michael Darragh Macauley reemerges for Dublin after a 20 MINUTE temporary replacement by Denis Bastick#DUBvLAO #GAA
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) June 4, 2016
At what stage does temporary stop being temporary?
Mayo have repeatedly bent this unclear rule to their own benefit. In the last couple of years both Evan Regan, Lee Keegan and Tom Parsons have been “temporarily” substituted despite there being no chance whatsoever of them returning to the field.
On more than one occasion these switches have allowed Mayo to make more than the legal number of substitutions.
The GAA must close off this loophole. Otherwise we all know what will happen…
An ‘extra’ substitute will score the winning goal in an All-Ireland final, on pitch protests, Liveline is inundated, CCCC get involved and nobody learns a thing.
