‘You don’t win by playing nice’

Kerry’s hard edge. What might have been considered an oxymoron in the past has never been anything but fact as long as Darren Hughes has played senior football for Monaghan.

Even when Monaghan’s attempt to physically shake up Kerry almost succeeded in the 2007 All-Ireland quarter-final (a busted Paul Galvin walked off wounded after 53 minutes), Hughes, who came off the bench that day, recognised street smarts in the opposition.

Now, as he hears about Mayo being upset by some of Kerry’s behaviour in Castlebar last Saturday, he wonders what the fuss is all about.