Football board’s own goal

Date Published: 04-Sep-2007

A city supporter who collapsed at a GAA match on Sunday could have died because of the lack of medical facilities at the game, according to his friends.

The Galway County Football Board has been heavily criticised for not providing an Order of Malta ambulance or a medical representative at Tuam Stadium, after a Salthill/Knocknacarra supporter collapsed at his side’s quarterfinal clash with Killererin on Sunday evening.

Friends of the supporter — who is understood to have suffered an epileptic fit — contacted the Sentinel yesterday to express their anger at the lack of medical services at Tuam Stadium, claiming that if it had been a heart attack the supporter had suffered, he would have possibly died.

“It is just as well he didn’t have a heart condition, otherwise he would be dead. It took 25 minutes for the ambulance to come, but the truth of the matter is that they should have been at the game. It is a disgrace,” said one of the man’s friends, who didn’t wish to be named.

That said, she acknowledged the onus was not on the Order of Malta to attend, stating it was the responsibility of the County Board to ensure medical representation was on hand at the games. She highlighted that such a commitment had previously been given by the Board.

Indeed, the Football Board had given such a commitment last August, when…..