Kerry v Donegal flashpoints | Mike Quirke and Conor McManus dissect the incidents

Added: 2026-05-24

[00:00:00]was uneventful enough at halftime. I suppose uh 45 people on the pitch. Yeah, I mean I think there was a legacy like Donnie Gall have beaten carry now last three times that they've played him outside after the all Ireland final that breeds its own level of contempt. Um there was probably a bit of aggravation after the league final and different things and I think you saw that kind of festering and and come to the come to the forefront which is a shame because the game itself in the first half was was setting up to be game of the year with the with the spectacle.

[00:00:27]>> It was it was an incredible first half.

[00:00:28]your two teams really going after each other. It had that bit of aggression and that we bit of niggle, which is exactly what you want to see in Championship football, but obviously it it's spilled over.

[00:00:37]>> Let's take a look then maybe where across the line, Connor.

[00:00:40]>> Yeah, listen, it it it from early doors, as we mentioned, there was there was aggression, there was niggle in it, you can see obviously with with um early events, I'm sure it was.

[00:00:49]>> This is after the game with the the walking wounded, but from the start there was chaos before the throw.

[00:00:54]this this incident here when when we seen it first off with David Clifford I thought there was nothing in it you know but when you see it close up and you see a replay of it there's more in it than than meets the eye and referees don't have the luxury of watching watching it back and he's probably lucky to get away with that there's no doubt that's that that's in this one here I don't think there's anything in it the hooter goes it's a shoulder not much in it but it's the reaction of all the players then after that you know Donny G players speed in Kerry players speed in and the whole thing just escalates from that you know David Clifford's obviously trying to get in. But you can see here, this is the this is the incident here where where Miho Burns gets himself into trouble. Um, again, it's probably the reaction of all the players and their adrenaline's up, but you can see here Michael Michael Burns just gets the the jab in at Ray McHugh there and ultimately that's what what caused Carrie the game really.

[00:01:43]>> Yeah. And he'll know himself. No one will be more disappointed than himself.

[00:01:46]He he he couldn't do it. Jack, I've worked with Jack for a number of years and he knows you can't you can grapple but you can't hit. And here's obviously the other big talking point with Jim and he was sour after the game with with journalists who who were asking him questions about it. But I mean given the precedent with with Jer Brennan, he obviously crossed the line himself and put hands on a player when really he should know better himself. leave that stuff to the players to sort out and and it was a real it was a real shame because you know the game itself the kickouts the scores that we saw the defending it was it was just brilliant fair in in the first half and and I think that just spilled over the top between all the players there wasn't hugely anything crazy in in that even that incident you're talking about there wasn't much in it you know like it's it's quite innocuous there's not not much in it but >> it's blown into some maybe something more than it should be the problem is that there's a precedent there Yeah, >> with with Jar Brennan. But to me, it's there's not not much in it really, you know, >> like you'd love you'd love to just leave that play out in terms of, you know, obviously the Mihal Burns won. He he crossed the line. He he'll serve his suspension. He got his red card. Jim McInness puts his hands on a player.

[00:02:52]It's not it's not, you know, it's a push. It's a shove. Um but given the position that the GA took with Jer Brennan, it just they've kind of backed themselves into a corner a small little bit. Um and if that had started some kind of a ride or if players started jumping in that's where he just you know he obviously was mistaken in that as well and that didn't help.

[00:03:11]>> And with the uh with the retrospective action like it's a the the penalty is very very severe a 12week ban obviously for minimal interference with an opposition player. That's what Jer Brennan got. Um and with the David Clifford incident as well those were not dealt with on the field of play today which which leaves it open then to maybe further action. It does unfortunately.

[00:03:30]That's that's just the reality of it.

[00:03:32]Jar Brennham to me in my eyes was very harshly dealt with, you know, to get a 12-week ban for what he done. I I don't think it ever should have happened. I don't think too many people agree with it. You know, it again it happened. he'd probably regret it and he's come out as and said as much but the the the CCC will probably delve into this unfortunately and and they will probably look for for some some >> I think neither of those like Cheran or or Jim McInness that doesn't deserve 12 12 weeks you know that's that's overly harsh in in in my opinion and um look like it's a shame to be talking about this stuff because again we had a such a great spectacle for a lot of the game and as you said the game was destroyed at halftime because at 11 against 10 Donny Gal control the game all the way to the finish.

[00:04:15]>> Have they set a dangerous pree because interference with players the GA will say well to the letter of law then we have to act here but it's a very very severe law in many people's eyes.

[00:04:24]>> I think it is. Yeah. I think the spirit of of championship football breeds a higher level of physicality than we see in National League or anywhere else. Uh of course by the letter of the law if if they want to say minimal interference with a with a player that is the letter of the law. In my own view I just think that's very very harsh. And with 45 players and officials on the field, where will they draw the line with this?

[00:04:45]I wonder.

[00:04:45]>> Yeah. Well, you've seen probably Sean Hson coming onto the field at the start of the second half. It's not something I ever seen before. We were just talking about it where he pulls the two managers in and speaks to them and basically tells them to clear the sideline. I've never seen that before, but I'd imagine it's something that the G are probably going to have to >> There's been calls, Connor, for the the sidelines to be cleared up, you know, because emotions run high. We see it every single day. We've all been involved and emotions run high. Um, could a couple of early black cards have dampened down a lot of things here?

[00:05:12]You're dealing with a really experienced match official uh and a match official team.

[00:05:17]>> Yeah, listen, we were just saying earlier on who'd be a referee because that that game today was extreme right before the whistle even went and and Sean Horson in Fernham probably made the right decision. He just tossed the ball.

[00:05:26]>> We praised him for that.

[00:05:27]>> Yeah. But in hindsight, maybe it it maybe set the tone and set the scene for maybe what was to come.

[00:05:33]>> You know, Sean Horson by his nature, he lets the game go. He lets a bit of physicality going and we all want to see that. That's what we come to.

[00:05:40]>> Sean Hson is one of the best referees in in the country. I'm not sure there was a lot of obvious black card fouls that he could have dealt with early on. Uh like the last time I've seen a a referee pull in two managers and give him a talk until it was at an under 12 go games or something. It was very surreal to to see Jack and Jim having to go back and clear and put everybody outside the wire. It was very unusual. But I think maybe that incident at halftime probably was pretty unusual.

[00:06:03]>> Yeah. And then and like I I don't know where Evan Looney happens to get himself in the but we still haven't got to the bottom of that one or where where that yellow card.