Teddy McCarthy: I was treated like a ‘bowsie’ in Croker
The four-time All-Ireland medal-winner grew frustrated after being sent to three different entrance points in attempting to make his way into the Hogan Stand premium level shortly before noon and was then told by security personnel to come back in an hour when he had calmed down.
The only player in the history of the GAA to win both All-Ireland hurling and football medals in the same year, McCarthy left Jones Road in a fit of rage and was well down the road home when his name was called out at Croker.
“It was quarter-to-twelve in the morning and they were treating me like I was some bowsie in a nightclub,” McCarthy told SportsJoe.ie
“They sent me in three different directions and finally sent me back to the first guy. I asked ‘Who’s in charge here?’ Things got a bit heated and they told me to come back in an hour.
“We each had a word and then the head of security came down to talk to me through the glass.
“I won’t lose any sleep over it, but it was a bit annoying. I had a ticket and a luncheon ticket, what did they want me to do?” Despite several phone calls from former team-mates inside the stadium, McCarthy opted not to hang around - manager Billy Morgan standing in for McCarthy on the pitch.
“There was no explanation so then I got irked, I got annoyed, so I went away. I went back down the road towards Cork and stopped along the way to watch the game.
“[Former GAA president] Seán Kelly and a few more rang me to tell me to come back in, everything had been sorted, but I was past the point of no return at that stage.
I asked ‘Who’s running the zoo here?’ “I was there two-weeks ago for the hurling final and I had no trouble getting in.” Cork GAA chairman Ger Lane said he was disappointed for McCarthy.
“I was in Croke Park, I was at the function. I would be disappointed for Teddy, but because I am not aware of all the facts, I could not comment on the matter.”