O’Rourke defends RTÉ

RTÉ analyst Colm O’Rourke yesterday defended the role of The Sunday Game in the controversial suspension of Kerry’s Paul Galvin.

Galvin received an eight weeks ban following a clash with Cork’s Eoin Cadogan in the Munster SFC semi-final replay at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.

Kerry GAA chiefs, and a number of former players, were angered at the manner in which the issue was highlighted on The Sunday Game, claiming it influenced disciplinary bosses.

However, writing in yesterday’s Sunday Independent, O’Rourke insisted it was: “not the Cork players or The Sunday Game that has caused the problem, but his (Galvin’s) own short fuse.”

He wrote: “The Sunday Game, by highlighting the incident, did not cause the problem. Those who criticise showing this indiscipline are way off the mark. If you were to follow this path there would be no indiscipline highlighted on TV... burying the bad news in case it gives offence or shows some individuals in a bad light.

“So The Sunday Game is not judge and jury and, in particular, taking exception to Anthony Tohill’s comments is attempting to divert attention away from the real issue.

“My concern has always been that the CCCC may react too much to The Sunday Game and I felt that as the incident had been close to the referee then that should be the end of it. That is not the same as making out it did not take place.

“However in this case, it appears that the CCCC had already decided that there was a case to be pursued, even before The Sunday Game had come on air. So it is simply not credible to blame Tohill, especially, for getting Galvin suspended. The dye had already been cast.

“In the past, I have defended Galvin quite a bit, both in print and on TV. There have been many occasions when I felt he was getting as much as he was giving, but like giving a dog a bad name, he was always coming out on the wrong side. “Off the field, I have had dealings with him on football matters where I found him courteous, friendly and obliging and it was obvious in his work with St Brendan’s, Killarney, that indiscipline is not something that he tolerates.

“Greatness brings obligations and like many of those who are blessed with a bit of genius, there is a tendency with Galvin to blow it all by doing something silly. And Galvin knows that it is not the Cork players or The Sunday Game that has caused the problem, but his own short fuse.

“There is a difference between passion and rage. Furthermore, while all around him railed against injustice this week, he held his counsel and accepted his fate. I did not agree with the suspension, but that was more from a procedural point of view and while the penalty is harsh, those are the rules he plays by.

“He will be greatly missed in Kerry’s next championship games, but the backing of the Kerry County Board or the Kerry players cannot solve the disciplinary issues that follow Paul Galvin. The only one who can do that is Paul Galvin himself.”