Adams refutes ‘thuggery’ allegations

PUZZLED…Gearoid Adams can’t understand David Power’s comments

ANTRIM joint-manager Gearoid Adams has hit back at controversial comments Wexford manager David Power made in the aftermath of their hotly-contested league match three weeks ago.

Power alleged that some incidents involving Antrim players were “not football, but thuggery” and claimed that the Saffrons had “targeted” Paul Broderick, who was taken off at half-time.

However, Adams denies that his side had intentionally singled out Broderick for rough treatment, noting that both sides played their part in a full-blooded contest that edged Antrim’s way.

“I’ve rewatched the video two or three times and I basically thought the answer that (co-manager) Frank Fitzsimons gave – that it wasn’t even worth a response.

“Like every football game there could’ve been a couple of black cards either way. I don’t think there’s any intention to any harm any player and if David came to any Ulster Championship game he would know it’s part and parcel.

“We don’t endorse any form of dirty or negative football, we try to win the ball fairly and that happened in that match, if David sees it differently then so be it.”

Adams also claimed that Antrim had been on the receiving end of cynical play this year but chose not to air their grievances in the public sphere.

“Ulster teams get stereotyped, we’ve played teams this year and things have been said and done but you don’t go to newspapers, you learn from your mistakes and experiences.”