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Dublin: 6 °C Thursday 23 May, 2013

No hard feelings? Brian McGuigan hits out at Kerry duo

The Tyrone star has compared the actions of Declan O’Sullivan to Cristiano Ronaldo. Not in a good way.

Image: ©INPHO/Cathal Noonan

TYRONE FORWARD BRIAN McGuigan stirred the lingering ill will between his county and Kerry yesterday when he labelled Declan O’Sullivan as ‘pure ignorant’.

McGuigan was red-carded after clashing with O’Sullivan in the 56th minute of Tyrone’s defeat to Kerry in Killarney last weekend.

Yesterday in his column with Gaelic LIfe, McGuigan was scathing in his criticism of O’Sullivan for his apparent glee after the red card was issued.

McGuigan admitted that the red card was fully merited and ‘completely stupid’ yet added:

“The one thing which is going to stick with me is the sight of Declan O’Sullivan smiling and sniggering when he got me sent off. I suppose it was a bit like when Cristiano Ronaldo gave the wink when he got Wayne Rooney sent off at the (2006) World Cup.”



YouTube credit: footballchaser

The Ardboe man added that he never had a problem with most Kerry players and cited happy memories with Tomas O’Se and Paul Galvin.

However, when it comes to O’Sullivan and Kerry captain Colm Cooper McGuigan says that, although they are ‘class players’, they always had a high opinion of themselves and; “they always gave the impression that they looked down on you.”

“I remember we (Tyrone) scored a last-gasp goal to beat Kerry in the National League up in Omagh,” recalled McGuigan, “I went to shake hands with O’Sullivan and he was just pure ignorant.

“Fair enough it was hard on them the way they lost, but there’s still a way to conduct yourself in a dignified manner. It’s important to win and lose in the right way.”

You can access the full edition of Gaelic Life (through a paywall) here.

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Comments (35 Comments)

  • burying a lad in the back off the ball right in front of the referee will result in a red card. no point blaming anyone but yourself McGuigan.

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  • I don’t recall any Kerry players coming out with any comments after the 3 beatings in 2003, 2005 and 2008. The player should accept the defeat and cease with the whining. And while he is at it he might have a word with Ryan McMenamin about his actions every time he plays.

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  • its doesn’t matter what Kerry players did. the point is McGuigan got himself sent off…

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  • A bit ridiculous that an extremely talented player such as McGuigan would come out with something as petty as this.
    What makes it extremely ridiculous is that its a Tyrone player coming out with it, the lack of awareness the irony inherent in such a statement woudl be funny if it wasnt so worrying.
    Look at Ricey’s antics for the last 10 years, google Joe McMahon and Tommy Walsh or Gormely shouting in Galvins face after they beat us in 05- the difference is Kerry kept their counsel on these incidents.

    The reality of the situation is that he is highly embarassed of his stupidity in getting himself sent off and is trying to shift the attention/blame to another target.
    You got yourself sent off Brian, you let down your team and manager-be a man and accept it

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  • It was HIS own actions got him sent off, now he is behaving like a pure cry baby, he should grow up .

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  • It’s all nonsense really .. Every team will back their own and every supported will forget / ignore their lads behaviour.

    Sure in 2001 in Thurles I remember the biggest roar from the Dublin fans was when Vinny Murphy came running on to the pitch swinging elbows and shoulders to anyone near him..

    As for coopers dislike of Tyrone football .. I was in Omagh in 2002 when cooper was assaulted on numerous occasions by various tyrone players … What went on in the corner thAt day was disgusting

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  • Joe L 27/07/12 #

    Look in the mirror Brian and you’ll see who “got you sent off”!
    U12 stuff!

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  • He should take a look at some of the actions of his team mates Conor Gormley and Ryan McMenamin last weekend before having a pop at the opposition, but obviously it’s far easier to slate the opposition

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  • Ignorant is hitting a player from behind in front of the ref for no reason whatsoever. Now I wonder if he had anything to say about Conor Gormless after Tyrones fluked goal?

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  • neo1 27/07/12 #

    Sad he had to come out with that drivel even after 500+ kingdom supporters hung around to applaud mikey Harte and team

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  • I think the last two lines sum it up. pity he doesn’t heed his own advice.

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  • Sportsmen who jump up and down waving their arms in a triumphalistic fashion at the end of match goading the losing team, need to grow up. The attitude or belief that they are superior to and should triumph over all others just sucks. Kerry and Waterford hurlers have been let down badly by a few of its player.

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    • They weren’t goading Tyrone either. Kerry have had a terrible season so far, and that match was make or break for them this season. It was the first time any of them players have beaten Tyrone in the championship, after losing to them in All Irelands. Of course they’re going to be happy about it, there’s an intense rivalry between Tyrone and Kerry. I was at the match, and it was the first time in 12 or 13 years of going to Kerry matches I’ve seen such an atmosphere among the fans for a full match. The players went over to the side of the pitch that was mostly Kerry fans and celebrated, and Galvin shook hands and swapped jerseys with Mulligan straight after. There was no goading involved whatsoever.

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  • Up the Kingdom!

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  • Kerry players are always trying to get opposition players in trouble. Donaghy’s dive when he should have been booked for obstructing ger Brennan in the last minute of the ai final last year comes to mind… Of course in Kerry that doesn’t make you a cynical cheat it makes you “cute”.
    Not that mcguigans comments are anything but hypocritical! Tyrone are equally cynical

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    • A bit rich mentioning Ger Brennan after his attempted mutilation of Declan O’Sullivan a few minutes prior to that. How the ref left him on the pitch is beyond me. That said its not given the Dublin bias the ref displayed that day!

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    • Your absolutely right joe my bad. Brennan knew exactly where O Sullivan would slip and strategically placed his knee in the hope that he would decapitate him… Probably still on about mcmanamons steps too eh?
      Ps. Only for 2 poor refereeing decisions back to back Tyrone would have been playing Westmeath last Saturday. You’re not bitching about that down in the kingdom though are ya? Hah..live

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    • Utter nonsense and bile. That’s a begrudging, childish reaction without any foundation save spite from a narrow-minded, bad-loser.

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    • Ouch!
      Just a bit of banter my friend. ;)

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  • I hope Kerry wins the All Ireland this year.

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  • To be fair he has a point. Kerry are turning into the biggest bunch of divers, moaners and wimps in GAA. Colm Cooper was also rolling around the floor play acting looking for a free in that match. On top of that you have Donahy sticking his head into every altercation even if it’s at the other end of the pitch. Kerry are known for going down easily. Remember the furore when Aidan O Mahony was caught taking a dive on camera when he alleged Donnacha O Connor had “hit him”. They’re always at it! Cynical soccer like tactics!

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    • My impression was that Tyrone lads were the most ‘toppled-over’ on the ground with teams of ‘resurrectionists’ mopping their brow. And all the ‘wounded’ leapt up like new-married fleas when the momentum of the Kerry attacks was broken up.

      Kerry lads were urging the ref to get the game going again.

      Kerry’s victory was somewhat lessened by the fact that Tyrone are mostly a team on the way into retirement, and history. It would be a pity if Tyrone left the stage with bitterness. They have given so much to the GAA and Ulster football; they should be mighty proud!

      And, by the way, Roscommon are the only team that, historically, Kerry really detest – Jack O’Shea will tell you all about the why and wherefore of it!

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    • Sounds like a frightened Corkman!

      Galvin will sort out you lot, again!

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    • neo1 28/07/12 #

      Shush lad

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  • Kerry’s player,Curtain did the same thing near the end of the game,alot worse and in front of the ref and only got a yellow card. Some Kerry players did a lot of rolling around the ground last Saturday , that’s Gaelic football!!

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  • And don’t get me started on that other spanner galvin

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  • And, I am sure you would know one when you see one; aithníonn ciaróg ciaróg eile……

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  • No clip of the incident?
    Still GAA games with no tv cameras?

    Reply

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