National Forum

Mayo Ladies Walk Out

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Mayo Ladies football just need to move on now. The County Board has backed Leahy and from another poster the other LGFA Clubs have backed Leahy also. If that is the case then the matter is over. The players involved have a decision to make on whether they play for Mayo again or not.

The other matter in relation to the Carnacon club is a separate matter now between the club and Mayo County Board. The issues sound to me like they are resolvable via mediation but i dont think that is the nub of the matter here with this club.

Meridian (Westmeath) - Posts: 601 - 19/09/2018 09:17:31    2142625

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Replying To arock:  "The only people making it a female issue are condescending males who barely tolerate females even as partners never mind sports people. I too have been listening to Off The Ball the way that coach behaved flies in the face of any kind of advice that a coach should follow. If a coach hurls abuse in a one and one conversation they are NOT fit to be a coach its not allowed in the work place, in school on our streets, just because its a sports arena doesn't make it right. The fact he spoke alone to these players speaks volumes he ignored his own player liaison officer, he abused his capt he lost the plot and now half the dressing room. The chap had a player liaison officer right? a great choice that turned out to be. Some players who were selected have backed the players, they are not all from one club yet one club was targeted illegally by the county board and they had to back track on that one. They made a balls of the mediation, I would imagine the county board is only too happy to put the boot into the only club targeted. Imagine if that happened in Dublin? No it wouldn't because it couldn't happen players as players are treated with dignity and respect, There is no nice way to drop players but there is a respectful way. I would wager the current management won't be around next year."
I appreciate that you have listened to the off the ball interview with the players. Might I suggest that you also have a listen to the interview with Mayo manager Peter Leahy on the GAA hour. As the saying goes there are two sides to every story and the detail he gives about the situation, details that are very lacking in the players version, paint a very different picture to the one you seem to have drawn from the versions of events that you have heard.

AHP (Dublin) - Posts: 323 - 19/09/2018 09:22:25    2142626

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Replying To arock:  "The only people making it a female issue are condescending males who barely tolerate females even as partners never mind sports people. I too have been listening to Off The Ball the way that coach behaved flies in the face of any kind of advice that a coach should follow. If a coach hurls abuse in a one and one conversation they are NOT fit to be a coach its not allowed in the work place, in school on our streets, just because its a sports arena doesn't make it right. The fact he spoke alone to these players speaks volumes he ignored his own player liaison officer, he abused his capt he lost the plot and now half the dressing room. The chap had a player liaison officer right? a great choice that turned out to be. Some players who were selected have backed the players, they are not all from one club yet one club was targeted illegally by the county board and they had to back track on that one. They made a balls of the mediation, I would imagine the county board is only too happy to put the boot into the only club targeted. Imagine if that happened in Dublin? No it wouldn't because it couldn't happen players as players are treated with dignity and respect, There is no nice way to drop players but there is a respectful way. I would wager the current management won't be around next year."
You are so misinformed its genuinely ruining this thread.

Unstoppable123 (UK) - Posts: 14 - 19/09/2018 09:27:32    2142628

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Replying To Kingofthehill100:  "Bizarre conference. No new details. Unsafe is so vague and I think this has made them look even worse. This was the time to let it blow over and move on."
A press conference with TWO journalists at it, that were hand picked and are both female. Give me a break.

BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 932 - 19/09/2018 10:08:52    2142635

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Off The Balls coverage of this story has been nothing short of a disgrace, however I am not surprised given the people involved. They have covered one side, and one side only to this story. They actually had the cheek to announce on air that they have offered Peter Leahy a opportunity to come on air and give his side of the story, when he had already done so a week previously but they chose to ignore it and pretend it didn't happen because of who the interview was conducted by and it also didn't suit there Cora love in agenda. Cora Staunton is on every GAA related item on that show at this stage and they are clearly siding with her and idolize her. Peter Leahy has given full detailed explanations to a proper sports journalist, something these girls have not done. I have never been more embarrassed for people listening to a piece of audio as I did yesterday. This whole episode is a damming indictment of society in 2018 unfortunately where you cant say anything to anyone or as much as say boo to anyone.

BigJoe14 (Meath) - Posts: 932 - 19/09/2018 10:22:34    2142637

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Replying To arock:  "The only people making it a female issue are condescending males who barely tolerate females even as partners never mind sports people. I too have been listening to Off The Ball the way that coach behaved flies in the face of any kind of advice that a coach should follow. If a coach hurls abuse in a one and one conversation they are NOT fit to be a coach its not allowed in the work place, in school on our streets, just because its a sports arena doesn't make it right. The fact he spoke alone to these players speaks volumes he ignored his own player liaison officer, he abused his capt he lost the plot and now half the dressing room. The chap had a player liaison officer right? a great choice that turned out to be. Some players who were selected have backed the players, they are not all from one club yet one club was targeted illegally by the county board and they had to back track on that one. They made a balls of the mediation, I would imagine the county board is only too happy to put the boot into the only club targeted. Imagine if that happened in Dublin? No it wouldn't because it couldn't happen players as players are treated with dignity and respect, There is no nice way to drop players but there is a respectful way. I would wager the current management won't be around next year."
What's your take then on the majority of the Mayo players?

You know the ones that disagree with your characterisation of their manager, the ones that disagree with their former captains and walk away players version of events.

Are the being condescending too?

That's the biggest issue for me that the majority of players back the manager, but you think you know better than these women who are playing for him?

The majority of players backed the manager when the chance came to get rid. That's the key to it, it has nothing to do with gender either.

MesAmis (Dublin) - Posts: 13705 - 19/09/2018 10:25:07    2142639

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Replying To ballydalane:  "Arock, Gleebo etc., in your support of the "walk out" players, do you also support their use of the word "unsafe" to describe the Mayo set-up?"
I haven't written that I support the "walk out" necessarily. What I am saying is that once it happened, that not everyone involved was treated the same.

You have one (very vague) rule about bringing the game into disrepute, that was thrown at Carnacon by Mayo LGFA.

You have another (very specific) rule relating to individual players refusing to tog for the county, that was ignored by the Mayo LGFA in the same case.

If you selectively apply the rulebook in cases like this, then you're leaving yourself open to accusations of discrimination.

I also believe that it's morally wrong to punish 20 odd innocent club footballers in Carnacon for a dispute that involves only their small number of county panelists and club secretary.

Regarding Staunton's comments, I believe that they were dangerously ambiguous and Leahy had the right to set the record straight about that. IMO the players should have backed off from that wording entirely in their statements yesterday.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 19/09/2018 10:29:52    2142641

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Sad thing is two very different entrenched positions, sad thing is this being played out in the media and not being managed in house, meaning everyone is a looser here, the players who left the panel, the players on the panel, the management team and the county board.

Ultimately no one will care who was right or wrong, but mud sticks and careers and legacy will be damaged by this.

A huge shame as Mayo are more then competitive in the women's division.

TheUsername (Dublin) - Posts: 4445 - 19/09/2018 10:34:41    2142644

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Replying To TheUsername:  "Sad thing is two very different entrenched positions, sad thing is this being played out in the media and not being managed in house, meaning everyone is a looser here, the players who left the panel, the players on the panel, the management team and the county board.

Ultimately no one will care who was right or wrong, but mud sticks and careers and legacy will be damaged by this.

A huge shame as Mayo are more then competitive in the women's division."
Even when the players walked management kept quiet when there was rumours everywhere about them. Staunton then using the platform she has to say she felt unsafe was a comment she won't redeem herself from. When I 1st heard it I did think those ladies must have had to put up with such poor conditions as did most. Leahy had to respond and I'm glad he did. The ladies statement yesterday only showed them in a bad light. They gave no example of unsafe conditions. A player being called lazy was the only example of unfair treatment and if your manager says that to you you go out and prove that you're not.

I wish the mayo ladies the best of luck next year. Well done to the ladies who stood by their manager even though up to 2 days before a championship game their former colleagues were trying to get them to walk

galwayfball (Galway) - Posts: 1678 - 19/09/2018 11:28:01    2142651

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Replying To arock:  "Wrong, four of the current players were at press conference. I suggest anyone go and make you their own minds listen to the On the ball podcast:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zShXfJsWSY

It is not good enough I have listened to this and it is shocking to be honest, Leahy claims he had a player liaison officer clearly that didn't work as he never used that person. If he didn't listen to his liaison officer why would he listen to strenght and conditioning coach? on other selectors? on the team captain? if you cannot listen to anyone you should be shown the door. I would urge anyone to listen to the link above and make your own mind up."
Maybe I don't understand maths but 8 out of 12 is a majority,it's a long time since I was in school, maybe it has changed.

cityman73 (Limerick) - Posts: 775 - 19/09/2018 11:44:39    2142654

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Why won't these players come out and say exactly what they deem a "unsafe and toxic" environment? Why all the vague accusations and allegations? If they believe they have such a strong case, come out and state it clearly. The press conference looked a bit pathetic with two journalists sitting there,maybe there were more off camera but it looked a bit ridiculous. Having a press conference to regurgitate the same unspecified allegations was a waste of everyone's time. Can't believe RTE even put it on the news. If you want public support behind you, you have to give them the full story. Whatever the outcome either these players are finished playing for Mayo or Leahy will have to go because they can never work together again after this. Doesn't sound like Leahy is going anywhere. The whole thing is a fiasco.

kildare73 (Kildare) - Posts: 854 - 19/09/2018 12:34:36    2142671

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Replying To kildare73:  "Why won't these players come out and say exactly what they deem a "unsafe and toxic" environment? Why all the vague accusations and allegations? If they believe they have such a strong case, come out and state it clearly. The press conference looked a bit pathetic with two journalists sitting there,maybe there were more off camera but it looked a bit ridiculous. Having a press conference to regurgitate the same unspecified allegations was a waste of everyone's time. Can't believe RTE even put it on the news. If you want public support behind you, you have to give them the full story. Whatever the outcome either these players are finished playing for Mayo or Leahy will have to go because they can never work together again after this. Doesn't sound like Leahy is going anywhere. The whole thing is a fiasco."
100% agree with you, very good post.

cityman73 (Limerick) - Posts: 775 - 19/09/2018 12:57:05    2142681

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Replying To arock:  "The only people making it a female issue are condescending males who barely tolerate females even as partners never mind sports people. I too have been listening to Off The Ball the way that coach behaved flies in the face of any kind of advice that a coach should follow. If a coach hurls abuse in a one and one conversation they are NOT fit to be a coach its not allowed in the work place, in school on our streets, just because its a sports arena doesn't make it right. The fact he spoke alone to these players speaks volumes he ignored his own player liaison officer, he abused his capt he lost the plot and now half the dressing room. The chap had a player liaison officer right? a great choice that turned out to be. Some players who were selected have backed the players, they are not all from one club yet one club was targeted illegally by the county board and they had to back track on that one. They made a balls of the mediation, I would imagine the county board is only too happy to put the boot into the only club targeted. Imagine if that happened in Dublin? No it wouldn't because it couldn't happen players as players are treated with dignity and respect, There is no nice way to drop players but there is a respectful way. I would wager the current management won't be around next year."
Half the dressing room,maths really isn't your strong point,why are you only listening to a minority of the panel, which the majority come from one club, honestly don't know what happened but I deal in facts and all the facts point to one club thinking they could run the team and met a manager who wanted to run the team his way and wouldn't be told this is the way we run things.

cityman73 (Limerick) - Posts: 775 - 19/09/2018 13:12:26    2142685

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Replying To kildare73:  "Why won't these players come out and say exactly what they deem a "unsafe and toxic" environment? Why all the vague accusations and allegations? If they believe they have such a strong case, come out and state it clearly. The press conference looked a bit pathetic with two journalists sitting there,maybe there were more off camera but it looked a bit ridiculous. Having a press conference to regurgitate the same unspecified allegations was a waste of everyone's time. Can't believe RTE even put it on the news. If you want public support behind you, you have to give them the full story. Whatever the outcome either these players are finished playing for Mayo or Leahy will have to go because they can never work together again after this. Doesn't sound like Leahy is going anywhere. The whole thing is a fiasco."
They did maybe you missed it, in fact there is a very short podcast on Off the ball last night of a short small snippet played to County of problems a single player had who was speaking for the first time. Its a tough listen, the problems are compounded by a County board abusing their own rule in expelling a single club from all competition, players are entitled to leave a panel if they wish, to then have a county board take a rule like bringing the game into disrepute and expelling an entire club, thankfully the Connacht Board has seen some sense. Whole thing is a mess, always avoidable, but when good will breaks down I am afraid its a fight and reputations will be ruined by this no winners.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4895 - 19/09/2018 13:23:36    2142686

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Replying To cityman73:  "Half the dressing room,maths really isn't your strong point,why are you only listening to a minority of the panel, which the majority come from one club, honestly don't know what happened but I deal in facts and all the facts point to one club thinking they could run the team and met a manager who wanted to run the team his way and wouldn't be told this is the way we run things."
"honestly don't know what happened ". How about almost half the panel since it is such a critical part of your argument. Eh why did the county board punish one club and not the other? How come the team had a player liaison officer yet this officer had zero input by management and by the players? Players have a fundamental right to walk away if they wish for whatever reason they choose. If this was the work place the management would be sacked that is why I back the girls. The girls who chose to remain are not part of the conversation as they are playing, have no issues so why would they be a part of the conversation? People involved in the GAA seem to feel natural justice, fairness and the rule of law do not apply. This will be resolved in the courts.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4895 - 19/09/2018 13:30:52    2142688

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Replying To Gleebo:  "I haven't written that I support the "walk out" necessarily. What I am saying is that once it happened, that not everyone involved was treated the same.

You have one (very vague) rule about bringing the game into disrepute, that was thrown at Carnacon by Mayo LGFA.

You have another (very specific) rule relating to individual players refusing to tog for the county, that was ignored by the Mayo LGFA in the same case.

If you selectively apply the rulebook in cases like this, then you're leaving yourself open to accusations of discrimination.

I also believe that it's morally wrong to punish 20 odd innocent club footballers in Carnacon for a dispute that involves only their small number of county panelists and club secretary.

Regarding Staunton's comments, I believe that they were dangerously ambiguous and Leahy had the right to set the record straight about that. IMO the players should have backed off from that wording entirely in their statements yesterday."
Unsafe was perfectly spelt out last night by Sarah Tierney - unsafe has been replaced with mental abuse so it is now taking a very serious turn. Now we as observers can we say that is rubbish, but yet all sporting bodies are supposed to hold this issue in the highest regard. So are we now playing down these concerns and accusations? So is what she says mental abuse? I am not qualified and you can be absolutely certain the Mayo County board is not. Because effectively the GAA/LGFA/Camogie associations all have signed up to specific protocols is the Mayo County Board following them? I would urge anyone unsure to listen specifically to what Sarah Tierney is saying. This is getting serious someones reputation is going to be in tatters if this is not taken out of the public domain and soon.

arock (Dublin) - Posts: 4895 - 19/09/2018 13:42:37    2142690

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Replying To arock:  "Unsafe was perfectly spelt out last night by Sarah Tierney - unsafe has been replaced with mental abuse so it is now taking a very serious turn. Now we as observers can we say that is rubbish, but yet all sporting bodies are supposed to hold this issue in the highest regard. So are we now playing down these concerns and accusations? So is what she says mental abuse? I am not qualified and you can be absolutely certain the Mayo County board is not. Because effectively the GAA/LGFA/Camogie associations all have signed up to specific protocols is the Mayo County Board following them? I would urge anyone unsure to listen specifically to what Sarah Tierney is saying. This is getting serious someones reputation is going to be in tatters if this is not taken out of the public domain and soon."
No examples of "mental abuse" were given

890202 (Wexford) - Posts: 1278 - 19/09/2018 14:10:14    2142697

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the off the ball podcast proves nothing

Tarismelting22 (Roscommon) - Posts: 760 - 19/09/2018 14:25:52    2142701

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Replying To arock:  "Unsafe was perfectly spelt out last night by Sarah Tierney - unsafe has been replaced with mental abuse so it is now taking a very serious turn. Now we as observers can we say that is rubbish, but yet all sporting bodies are supposed to hold this issue in the highest regard. So are we now playing down these concerns and accusations? So is what she says mental abuse? I am not qualified and you can be absolutely certain the Mayo County board is not. Because effectively the GAA/LGFA/Camogie associations all have signed up to specific protocols is the Mayo County Board following them? I would urge anyone unsure to listen specifically to what Sarah Tierney is saying. This is getting serious someones reputation is going to be in tatters if this is not taken out of the public domain and soon."
The word "unsafe" was used by Cora Staunton on Off the Ball before any of the others spoke out publicly. No further information was given on the alleged lack of safety in the Mayo set-up, as the issue was "sensitive and personal" to those involved.

The term "unsafe" has a variety of connotations in a context like this, and to leave it hanging there for several days without explanation is irresponsible IMHO.

This is not to say I disbelieve Sarah Tierney or any of the others, but if someone's going to use loaded language like that, then you need to back it up with specifics. Otherwise, your credibility takes a hit.

Gleebo (Mayo) - Posts: 2208 - 19/09/2018 14:48:56    2142707

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It's amazing how someone can point you in the direction of a podcast which essentially tells you nothing new.
As regards for reputations , well, they certainly weren't being considered when the term " unsafe environment " was used and left hanging for people to draw their own conclusions.
Carnacon were banned because they were the ones who informed the management that the players from their club would no longer be involved in the panel.
Stop trying to present this dramatic version of the events as though it's quiet obvious why they left and that it has all been made clear in anything that they have presented so far when it is anything but the case.

catch22 (USA) - Posts: 2148 - 19/09/2018 14:51:00    2142708

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