'You can grapple but you can't hit' - RTÉ pundits condemn Kerry's Burns over McHugh punch

Former Kingdom star Mike Quirke and fellow Saturday Game analyst Conor McManus argue that Michael Burns' red card after ugly half-time melee changed the contest in Killarney 

IN THE WARS: Ryan McHugh of Donegal leaves the pitch at half-time during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Round 1 match between Kerry and Donegal at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney, Kerry. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

As the dust settled on a Championship Saturday full of fireworks, Kerry's Micheál Burns remained in the line of fire as the Dr. Crokes man's role in the ugly rolling melee that broke out at half-time of the Kingdom's heavy defeat to Donegal continued to be debated. 

Speaking on The Saturday Game, former Kerry stalwart Mike Quirke said Burns' intervention at the interval, when footage appeared to show him having aimed a right uppercut which left Donegal veteran Ryan McHugh with a dramatically bloodied face and a nasty gash above his left eye, changed the All-Ireland SFC Round 1 contest entirely. 

Burns and teammate Diarmuid O’Connor were grappling with McHugh after a rolling series of flashpoints between the sides which seemed to have been sparkled by a high shoulder charge from Kerry star David Clifford shortly before referee Sean Hurson blew his whistle to end a pulsating first-half. 

"Michael Burns gets the jab in at Ryan McHugh," said former Monaghan star Conor McManus as RTÉ took another close look at the flashpoint, which could well have many knock-on effects. "Ultimately that's what cost Kerry the game really."

"That breeds its own level of contempt"

Mike Quirke and Conor McManus put the spotlight on the litany of flashpoints between Kerry and Donegal's players and officials this afternoon #SaturdayGame pic.twitter.com/9sxhnRV0Kc

— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) May 23, 2026

Quirke, who spent multiple seasons as part of Kerry boss Jack O'Connor's backroom team condemned Burns' actions. 

"He'll know himself. No one will know more than himself," said Quirke. "I worked with Jack for a number of years. You can grapple but you cannot hit."

They then moved on to the other contentious moment which immediately followed — Donegal manager Jim McGuinness racing on to the field to mistakenly confront O'Connor and make contact with the midfielder as he pointed his finger at him. McGuinness bristled at media suggestions afterwards that he could face action, similar to a recent suspension handed out to Dublin boss Ger Brennan, for his intervention. 

"Here's the other big talking point with Jim. He was sour afterwards with journalists who were asking him about it," said Quirke. "But given the precedent with Ger Brennan, he obviously crossed the line himself and put hands on a player when really he should know better. It was a real shame."