Straight-talking and challenging players, Roscommon boss Davy Burke doing it his own way

Burke knows if Roscommon are to secure a home All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final Enda Smith can’t be tied up like he was by Donnacha McHugh in the Connacht semi-final and this was his way of cajoling him.

STRAIGHT-TALKING: Roscommon manager Davy Burke during the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Mayo and Roscommon at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park in Castlebar, Mayo. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Calling out one’s own player was supposed to be a thing of the past.

Besides describing a sending-off or a miss as costly, managers have learned to couch their language and keep their true feelings in-house.