Joe Brolly Says Only One Side To Blame In Armagh-Donegal Melee

Not one to stray too far from the controversies of GAA, Derry legend and former RTÉ pundit Joe Brolly has said he will represent the Armagh subs bench who became involved in a fierce tussle during last weekend's Ulster final.

The on-field brawl, now well reported and shared, occurred after Donegal defeated Armagh by a single point, 2-23 to 0-28 after extra-time to claim the Anglo-Celt Cup.

Despite 90 minutes of truly exhilarating football, all hell broke loose when Brendan Crawley signalled the end of the clash and a Donegal player appeared to approach Armagh's substitutes' bench, goading about their win.

The Orchard County bench reacted nearly immediately, with one panel member appearing to strike the celebrating Donegal player, leading to an all out brawl between both sides that required Gardaí to intervene.

Ultimately, the scenes marred what had otherwise been an absolute exhibition of Gaelic Football in the Ulster Senior Football Championship Final.

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Now reportedly being investigated by the GAA, Saturday's tussle has been the subject of intense scrutiny, with some utterly condemning the ugly scenes that unfolded in Clones, and some like Séan Cavanagh suggesting it was all part of the 'passion' of the Ulster Championship.

Of the two fields of view, Joe Brolly certainly falls in the latter. A barrister by trade, speaking on his Free State Podcast, Brolly pledged to defend the Armagh substitutions bench should it come to it, and claimed that the Donegal player got what 'he deserved'.

He got really what he deserved (the Donegal player). He shouldn't be at it and I appreciate it's beyond the boundaries to go knocking the head off him.

You think if that (taunting) happened in a big rugby game that there would be any other outcome than that. It was way outside what was acceptable.

I will happily defend the subs if it ever came to it. He's not a child, it was nasty what he was at and he shouldn't have been at it.

The resounding defence of Armagh's bench will undoubtedly ruffle a few feathers in Donegal, where many will feel that the Armagh bench are every bit as responsible for the incident.

Regardless of blame, Armagh's subs may yet need to take Joe Brolly up on his offer of representation.

According to reports from Andy Waters of the Irish News, the CCCC are investigating whether 'infractions of GAA rules governing violent conduct, striking and contributing to a melee' occurred after the final whistle on Saturday. They are also reportedly investigating allegations that language of a sectarian nature was used during the clash.

Both Armagh and Donegal will be hoping the effects of any such investigations will be minimal. Both counties are set to kick-start their All-Ireland campaigns in under two weeks time on Saturday 24th May, with Donegal fixed to take on Tyrone and Armagh set to welcome Derry.