It was an interview published on April 1st. You wondered if Ger Loughnane was being facetious.
Speaking to GAA.ie last week, the former Clare manager opined that the current Kilkenny team, winner of two consecutive All-Irelands, are merely 'functional beyond belief'.
He stated were it not for the influence of Brian Cody, this Kilkenny team is bereft of the talent required to win an All-Ireland.
Looking at Kilkenny now and their personnel, there is no way that Kilkenny should be winning the All-Ireland. There is no way this Kilkenny team should be going for three-in-a-row. Three-in-a-rows were so hard to get before Brian Cody came along. And teams that won three-in-a-rows were legendary teams. Now the present Kilkenny team is functional beyond belief, and they're getting the best out of what they have to an extent that no-one else could do other than Brian Cody. But, at the same time, a team with that talent should not be winning an All-Ireland. I have no problem in saying that. They should not be winning an All-Ireland with that team. Totally dependant on TJ Reid, one forward, and maybe Richie Hogan as well.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Star, Kilkenny hurler Colin Fennelly responded to Loughnane's comments.
Fennelly, who is part of the Kilkenny panel which Loughnane said should not be winning three All-Irelands in a row, described Loughnane's critique as both 'crazy' and 'weird'.
It just goes to show that what he said means absolutely nothing. It doesn't faze us at all. When I heard it I was like 'that's absolutely crazy'. You go through every team, like, Henry Shefflin, another sharp shooter.
I don't bother reading anything too much into things - probably more disappointed with what he said.
I think, what was it, that we shouldn't have won the last two All-Irelands?
It's weird, because in 2014 there's four competitions there to be won and we won all four of them. It's very unusual for a team to do that.
You have to win so many games to win all four. It's not pure luck that you win all those competitions, or all those games.
I don't know is Ger out of the game so long that he doesn't realise all the hard work that you put into winning.
It certainly has been a while since Loughnane managed at inter-county level. He departed the Galway job in 2008. However, Loughnane's knowledge of the hard work required to win an All-Ireland is undoubted. He took over a Clare side in the mid-90s known for being unable to take the big step, and though strenuous work on the training pitch, turned them into two-time All-Ireland winners.
Picture credit: Sportsfile
