Donal Óg slams Cats stars for GPA stance

CORK hurling goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack hits out at the Kilkenny hurling team in his autobiography, describing them as the “GAA’s version of the Stepford Wives” and criticising their lack of commitment to the Gaelic Players Association.

“We have made different journeys,” Cusack writes about the GPA.

“We struggled and Kilkenny left us out there to walk our path alone. Through all the troubles we have had we have often thought how much easier and how much more effective for all players this would be if Kilkenny and Cork were matching together.

“Fine, let’s flake each other on the field but let’s pull together off it.”

Cusack adds: “The more “disorder there is in Cork, the more Kilkenny is thought of fondly as the land of milk, honey and contentment.

“The GAA’s version of the Stepford Wives.”

Cusack points out that Kilkenny have benefited from the GPA: “A couple of them have won cars and stuff like that out of the GPA being there and they have gone and done television ads. Best of luck to them. That’s how it should be.”

The Cork ‘keeper goes on to detail the circumstances of Cork’s heavy defeat in this year’s league encounter with Kilkenny in Nowlan Park, alleging that Kilkenny supporters were chanting racial abuse about Cork wing-back Seán Óg O hAilpín within earshot of logistics manager Martin Walsh.

“He (Walsh) had heard Kilkenny supporters chanting, ‘Where’s the n***** now?’ in the first-half. He was beside himself with hurt and rage for Seán Óg.”

However, Cusack also pays tribute to Kilkenny’s achievements. After the Cats had beaten Cork by 27 points in the league he shook hands with Henry Shefflin: “He looked me in the eye and most of what he was saying to himself was, ‘There you go now, Cusack, 27 points. Take that home with ya’.

“He knew. I knew. They had put us away. Made their statement. It was his moment. I just had to say to him, ‘You’re a great team’.

“And f*** it, they are a great team. Somehow, in the last 10 years, they have got away from us.”

Come What May, Donal Og Cusack’s biography, is published by Penguin and is in the shops Friday.