'Some people like to be the centre of attention' - McGeeney takes aim at ref Gough after win

FAIR PLAY: Armagh manager Kieran McGeeney, left, and Dublin manager Ger Brennan shake hands after the Allianz Football League Division 1 match between Dublin and Armagh at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Ben McShane/Sportsfile

Kieran McGeeney aimed a thinly-veiled dig at referee David Gough for how he dealt with half-time incidents in Saturday's Division 1, Round 6 game.

Following a row between players as they approached the Hogan Stand tunnel, Jarlath Óg Burns was black carded on the resumption of the second half.

McGeeney was also yellow carded for apparent dissent after speaking to Gough at the interval. As a result, the second half began with a 20-metre free for Dublin, which they converted.

“Some people just like to be the centre of attention and you just have to give it to them, because that’s all that is,” said McGeeney. “Until something's done to improve those things, I don't know. But luckily there's videos so everybody can watch those and make up their own mind.

“The thing about it is when you don't have rules you can say whatever you like. That's about the only good thing about breaches. We can watch back and you can say when they're right or wrong. Last week against Mayo, there were three full breaches in the second half. You can point things out.

“But every time you're pointing to a rule in Gaelic, whether it's the advantage rule or the tackle rule or the steps rule, there's always an excuse. So listen, you just have to leave it at that.” 

McGeeney said he was embarrassed he cost his team a point — as he was in last year’s Ulster SFC clash with Tyrone when he kicked a sideline flag. On that occasion, Gough awarded a free against McGeeney, which was taken outside the arc by Tyrone for two points.

“I struggle a lot. All you're always looking for is fair play," he added. "The rules against one team should be the rules for the other team. It shouldn't waver. It just shouldn't waver. It should be the exact same. That's all we're looking (for). Nobody's looking anything else like it.” 

McGeeney took exception to a late hit on Aaron McKay in the first half: “But there was a couple of those, and after we had the advantage. But again, the advantage, it lasts 15 seconds of another game, 12, 13 seconds, and we're getting four or five and just waiting until they take the chance and it goes down. It's very, very frustrating.

“People sort of say it's down to the referee's interpretation, and that's where things always fall asunder. You can't have a personal opinion on the game. You either apply the rules or you don't.

“You just can't, because when it comes down to personal opinions, it'll come down to likes and dislikes. The way you like playing football or the way you don't like football being played. You just can't do that.

“You can't have one rule one week and a different rule the next. That's not the way sport's supposed to be played. And, you know, it's always sort of pushed to this. It's a pity because it was a cracker of a game, I'd say, for anybody watching it.” 

McGeeney said his team have been “shockingly poor” with the exception of three or four players in the first half. 

“But they definitely turned around in the second half and not only stood up but stood out. They were excellent in the way they brought the game to Dublin.” 

McGeeney expects no favours from his friend and former coach Kieran Donaghy when he faces him and Kerry in Armagh next weekend.

“You can see the influence he's having on them already but there's never a question of where his loyalty (is). He's a lot of good friends in Armagh and he's done a lot for us.

“I'm married to a Kerry woman, so I know this for an absolute fact. They don't fuck about. They're winners through and through regardless of what you do.” 

As Armagh entertain Kerry, Ger Brennan face a relegation battle against Galway in Salthill. Luke Breathnach appears to have hurt his shoulder again while Con O’Callaghan is unlikely to be risked in Pearse Stadium.

On this latest defeat after being 11 points up early in the second half, Brennan said it was “a poor second half” and added: “Players have to take ownership in those situations. In the days post a defeat like that, you do look at the video analysis and look at a couple of things that were good and not so good and sit down with guys individually, collectively and kind of get a sense of what they were thinking and see if we can straighten that out in seven days for the game on Sunday.”