Ciarán Kilkenny: Jim Gavin had duty of care to Connolly

Ciarán Kilkenny says the Dublin team want to move on from the Diarmuid Connolly controversy just as the player himself has done.

Kilkenny was unaware of what unfolded following Sunday’s Leinster semi-final over Westmeath when manager Jim Gavin took the decision not to permit one-on-one interviews with broadcasters before criticising RTÉ and Sky Sports for their coverage of Connolly’s exchange with linesman Ciarán Branagan in the Carlow game.

“Straight after the game, I was oblivious,” said Kilkenny. “You wouldn’t be knowing what’s going on in the background. We’re just focused on playing and focused on our preparation and our training and recovery. You put so much time into your actual training sessions that, outside that, you want to do other things. Go to the cinema. Play a bit of pitch and putt.