By Cathal Dervan

GER Loughnane should do the decent thing and threaten to quit as manager of the Galway hurling team. Right here, right now, as the song from Fatboy Slim says.

It is, I will admit, a dramatic suggestion, just weeks after his appointment as boss of a Galway squad that incidentally includes my second cousin Conor Dervan in its ranks.

To be fair to the man, the reason why Loughnane should at the very least threaten to walk away from Galway hurling actually has nothing to do with anything he is responsible for or could be held responsible for.

Last Sunday afternoon, as Loughnane’s son Barry was winning a Clare SHC medal with Wolfe Tones in front of his proud parents down in Ennis, all hell broke loose in the Galway hurling final.

The history books will record that reigning All-Ireland champions Portumna lost their county title to Loughrea, but those same records won’t reveal the horror story that unfolded at Pearse Park in Salthill.

Joe Canning, still a minor and one of the greatest prospects to emerge in Galway hurling for many years, scored from all angles in Sunday’s final, so you may be amazed to hear that those closest to him fear he may never play the game again.

As well as starring for Portumna, even in defeat, Canning was a central figure to one of the most disgraceful stories to emerge from any county final as he was apparently singled out for rough house treatment by his opponents, according to several eye witnesses.

So bad was one attack on the 18 year old that a blow delivered through the helmet he wears to protect himself left Canning in need of eight stitches.

It also, according to those who know him best, seriously damaged Canning’s desire to play the great game that is hurling.

Before he has even pucked a ball in anger for new manager Loughnane, Canning is so disgusted at the treatment he received in the name of hurling last Sunday that he may quit the game. And he’s not alone.

Loughnane has yet to offer any comment on the issue, but it may yet also cost him his selector Sean Treacy, Canning’s coach with Portumna.

“If that’s the way one of the finest young talents ever to emerge in Galway is going to be treated in a county final, what are we at?” the former All-Ireland winner Treacy told the Irish Independent on Tuesday.

“I have to look at my own position as a Galway selector. Do I want to be involved with a county that stands over what happened on Sunday? Right now, I don’t think I do.

“The way young Joe is feeling now, he may never play hurling again and who could blame him? He was butchered from start to finish. The message was sent out loud and clear on Sunday - the day of the sledger who can do what he likes is back.

“The way Joe was talking afterwards, I wouldn’t be a bit surprised if he quit hurling and took up rugby or some other sport where he’ll be protected. People keep talking about Joe being such a central figure to the future of Galway hurling.

“Other counties would love to have someone with so much natural talent, but what do we do with him? We allow him to be sledged in the county’s showpiece game of the year. It’s not something to be proud of.”

The bad news, by the way, is that the Galway board are unlikely to take any action as the referee failed to send anyone off for “butchering” Canning.

Only a public outcry –- and maybe even Loughnane’s intervention –- can force the Galway authorities to take action now.

If Loughnane is half the man of principle he claims to be then he must stand up to the thugs who tried to force one of his finest young players out of the game in Pearse Stadium last Sunday.

The scars on Canning’s face may eventually heal, but whoever was responsible for the wound delivered through his helmet, a wound that required no fewer than eight stitches, may have delivered a far more fatal blow to the future of one of Galway’s best young players ever.

For that, for dragging the name of Galway hurling down, Loughrea should be punished. If they’re not then Galway hurling isn’t worthy of a manager like Loughnane or the support of any decent human being.

And I really doubt that a man of Loughnane’s integrity and decency would want to be associated with a county board that could allow such actions to go unpunished.