The air is awash with euphemism and innuendo ahead of Cork and Mayo's quarter-final this weekend.
Cork manager Brian Cuthbert made comments the other day, urging the appointment of 'a strong referee' for Sunday's quarter final clash with Mayo and, in the next breath, he praised his opponents as 'streetwise', an obvious euphemism.
His selector Ronan McCarthy helpfully fleshed out those thoughts in today's Irish Examiner.
They’re an experienced, seasoned side and the term ‘streetwise’ has been used. How does that translate onto the field? I suppose it means that up front they’d be good at tactical fouling
He also pointed to Cillian O'Connor and Kevin McLaughlin's ability to break a team's momentum by committing 'little fouls' that go 'unnoticed.'
Ronan McCarthy reiterated Cork's desire to see a strong referee, presumably meaning one who will clamp down hard on tactical fouling.
If they thought no Mayo ears would prick up at these comments they were mistaken. Mayo Chairman Paddy McNicholas rejected the assertion that Mayo were a cynical team.
I don’t think you could ever label Mayo teams as cynical. Mayo has always been recognised as a proud football county. That is they way it has always been. Our record over the last number of years speaks for that.
Either way, the odds have surely plummeted on James Horan beginning his post-match interview with:
Lookit, we weren't too happy with some of the things that were said during the week...
[Examiner]
