Mark McGovern Case: Patrick Power Is "Person of Interest" in Gaelic Football Player's Injury

• Tell the truth!! A coma, Patrick Power standing over a body and away from play!!! He'll get his day!! Tell the truth Michael

• " but the theory that this is a non contact sport is absurd." You are absurd to have come up with a statement like that. I think someone should have learned to read properly...WHERE has it been said that gaelic football is a "NON CONTACT SPORT"? It is a medium impact sport not a non contact sport. My post was pointing out that gaelic is not a "full body contact sport" as the previous poster had stated. Your post is pedantic and childish. As I have already stated above the contact level of this sport is in between soccer and rugby so any child with half a brain would be able to deduce that twice as many injuries happen in gaelic than in soccer just as twice as many injuries happen in rugby than gaelic on the field of play. Severe head injuries are rare ( rare on the field of play a brawl is another thing). I have played rugby, Aussie rules and gaelic and I can tell you that gaelic is definitely the less contact sport of all but it is not "NON CONTACT". Most of the injuries are not head related. Also please be aware when doing your research that "gaelic games" and "gaelic football" are not the same thing as there is another  gaelic sport called "Hurling" which is more dangerous and has quite a few head injuries. But this doesn't make  the accused guilty, it should be illegal to print his name unless he was found guilty in court. But he and his team mates are not doing themselves any favors by not talking to police, that makes them appear guilty even if not so. If this happened during play than their was someone else involved in the tackle and they should come forward and save their reputations from slander if they have nothing to hide. Please be more careful to read the post you are replying to before you make such silly statements invent things not already said.

• According to Studies on injuries in Gaelic games -  You are twice as likely to get injured playing Irish Football than soccer.  Yes, Women and Children play Gaelic Football, however most injuries are sustained to men, because unlike woman and children, their Competitiveness and tempers are more likely to be exhibited on the field.  Although it states no contact to the head or neck is forbidden in situations according to Wikipedia, and other sources via Internet, there have been cases where contact was made in the upper body accidentally resulting in injury. It does state in the rules you may score using any body part, that would include the head and would leave open opportunities for injuries to the head. Now I know it has been said this was off the ball, but the theory that this is a non contact sport is absurd. Tackling is allowed -and in like most sports there are situations where illegal plays occur accident or not, unfortunatly they happen in all sports.

• And you know that he said that? Where you there to hear it?

• Well GAA Fan, seems like Michael doesn't like to speculate he prefers the truth and that has yet to been revealed, so tell me how you can came to the conclusion of what you think happened, hearsay? rumors? gossip? or was it factual evidence, eye witness encounters? "Somebody" heard him say that, who? Why didn't they interview this person, that's a huge piece of evidence,strange? Maybe the focus should be on the players well being, thoughts and prayers to Mark, instead you people all focus on pointing the finger.  Media reports are not always accurate, and neither is gossip.  Cheap shots happen all the time so let's not pretend they aren't and who says it was cheap and not an accident, everyone is so quick to think that this was done maliciously, other than the alleged statement of "you will not get up from that" what exactly gives the impression this was done purposely? Maybe you should look up all the good he has done for the GAA before you start speculating again! Maybe the Celts are standing behind him because they believe in him also, good to know he has true friends and family that know the real him!

• Well said. 

• It was a cheap shot that almost killed Mark McGovern.  Whoever did it is a thug, plain and simple.  A real man would step up, acknowledge guilt and start paying McGovern's medical bills for a start.  Why the SF Celts are protecting this thug amounts to aiding and abetting and makes the culpable as well.

• Disagree with the comment "no intensions to hurt him". McGovern was in a coma..  The player stood over McGovern saying you will not get up from that".  That sounds malicious to me and not an "accident".

• So Michael, what did happen and how did Mark McGovern sustain the injuries he did?  The reports say he took a blow to the head in an off the ball incident and an SF Celts player stood over him saying "you will not get from that".  Do you know something different? 

• wow you must have big cajones to write such a post!!! or did you see the football game!!!!

• RP Gaelic football is not a "full contact sport with no pads" it's contact is somewhere between soccer and rugby but there is no full bodily tackles involving the head.  Women and children play this game with few injuries. Unlike american football or rugby head injury is highly unlikely. The tackling involved is more of the shoulder to shoulder pushing and shoving variety, with medium impact to the upper body if two players are coming in fast and clash but contact to the head or neck is forbidden. If you have a look at the players they're not huge and muscular like American footy or rugby players but they are fit medium build guys because Gaelic Sports are more about skill, speed and control of the ball while moving fast not full on body strength competitions like other games. Have a look at this video or google the rules and you'll see that it's a mixed skill game but in comparison to Football is low to medium impact that does not require head gear or padding. http://youtu.be/TEAbWrdB9XU

• My prayers go to mcGovern and his family. But is what the media saying even true? Did the man who did it really stand over mcGovern? It's a full contact sport with no pads, accidents happen, And I'm sure whoever injured McGovern had no intensions to hurt him

• Anyone who is trying to accuse Patrick Power of doing something you weren't there to see, you should keep your comments to yourselves. You don't know that he ever had anything to do with it. Rumors spread very easily.

• You should be ashamed to try and associate yourself with the irish american gaa community. You have brought the game over here into total disrespect. All the good work down through the years to build the profile of GAA over here has been tarnished because of your cowardly actions. The truth will come out eventually and only then can the game move on.

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