Kerry blast McHugh’s depiction of Cooper as a ‘two-trick pony’
O’Sullivan expressed disappointment in the former Donegal player’s remark on The Sunday Game as he linked it to James O’Donoghue’s performance against Galway.
McHugh said: “I just want to make a point here: he’s a better player than Cooper, he’s one of the greatest I’ve ever seen.
“In my opinion, Cooper’s a two-trick pony. I just really believe that. I’m just making a point what I feel about him personally having watched him, studied him.”
McHugh’s words, which were immediately dismissed by fellow pundits Kevin McStay and Dermot Earley, were greeted with widespread contempt on social media.
O’Sullivan intimated McHugh could only wish to emulate the same achievements as his fellow Dr Crokes club-mate. He said: “Put it this way, we’ve never heard of a two-trick pony in Kerry anyway! It must be a Donegal pony he’s talking about!
“You’d be disappointed because he was asked to analyse a game and to comment about James who was outstanding in the game and deserved to be man of the match.
“He brought up a player who’s injured and is doing rehab and this person wants to be controversial for whatever reason.
“James is one of our up-and-coming stars and Colm’s record stands for itself. McHugh was a good footballer and had plenty of attempts to do what he wanted to do in his own playing career.
“He managed as well and he should know both as a past player and manager that the comments he made were unwarranted.
“The Kerry County Board will stand behind all its players both past and present. James is improving under Eamonn Fitzmaurice and hopefully he’ll achieve as much as Colm in the future.”
O’Sullivan listed the honours Cooper has claimed since debuting for Kerry in 2002.
“Gooch’s record stands for itself. Colm came on at senior at 17. He’s four All-Irelands, played in eight All-Ireland finals and seven Munster titles. He’s won everything in Kerry and Munster with the club.”
McHugh has form in making negative remarks about Munster football. After Brian Hurley’s stellar display in last year’s Cork final, he said: “Brian Hurley scored 12 points for Castlehaven, five from play, but that would never have happened in Ulster. The opposition would have put a sweeper in front of him straight away.”
Before last year’s National League, he also criticised the state of football in the province. “You’ve Cork and Kerry in Division 1 and the other four teams in Munster are in Division 4. People talk about Gaelic football being strong in Munster. There is no Ulster team in Division 4 of nine counties.”
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