Last night's Blues Sisters documentary on RTE was seemingly a resounding success.
The film, directed by Pat Comer, followed the Dublin Ladies' football team around for the 2017 season, one which saw them finally win the All-Ireland, having lost three in a row.
Viewers last night absolutely loved the film and were quick to take to social media in praise of another brilliant GAA documentary.
For some watching though, there was confusion, anger, and paranoia that Dublin had been chosen for this project, rather than the legendary Cork team - a team that won eleven the last twelve All-Irelands before this year.
Dublin media bias at its worst?
Did RTE ever think of making a documentary about Cork's 5 in a row, and latterly subsequent 6 in a row winning teams? Of course not, because we're not the Dubs who've only ever won 2 All Ireland's. #BluesSisters #UPCORK
— Corkman (@Corcaighman) November 27, 2017
Cork ladies footballers won 11 all Ireland’s since 2005 and 5 in row up until 2016, Dublin win their first, second ever and @RTEsport make a documentary? Have they got no shame?! #BluesSisters
— Mike South (@southymikeFFS) November 27, 2017
#BluesSisters on RTE 1. Corks Red Sisters win it 13 times and no special tv show ? ! #outsidethepale @CorkLGFA
— Tom Moore (@TommyGMoore) November 27, 2017
#BluesSisters Cork ladies GAA footballers win 6 years in a row & 11 in total but RTE don’t make a documentary about them. Dublin ladies win this year & only 2 in total & boom get a documentary about them. Dublin media bias at its finest Ladies & Gentlemen
— JDscrubs (@jdscrubs27) November 27, 2017
Great documentary on #BluesSisters but can't help wonder where is the documentary on the girls from Cork and those 11 All Ireland's?
— Niamh Walsh (@Squelshy4) November 27, 2017
Not quite. Mary White, the former Cork player, who penned the brilliant book "Relentless" about this legendary team confirmed as much on Twitter, suggesting that the Cork players rejected the proposal based on keeping the "dressing room sacred"
The dog days are over! Congrats to all involved in #BluesSisters 👏 👏 And for those asking, the #Cork ladies declined to do a similar documentary a few years ago. The team voted no, to keep dressing room sacred @LadiesFootball
— Mary White (She/Her) (@mary_white33) November 27, 2017
For all those so concerned as to why there’s no Cork team documentary - via @mary_white33, they declined a similar approach a few years ago, based on a player vote. Incidentally, Mary wrote a book about their phenomenal decade of success - and it’s superb. Read it. #BluesSisters pic.twitter.com/5KzGsfOk78
— Elaine Buckley (@ElaineBucko) November 27, 2017
Blues Sisters was a fantastic film. It gave Ladies' football a new platform and a chance to show and sell their brilliant product to a much bigger audience. It should have been a unifying night for people involved in the sport. Hopefully now those who were put out by the perceived snub of Cork can accept and enjoy last night's film for what it was.
