RTÉ co-commentator Martin Carney awarded the Munster final replay Man of the Match award to James O'Donoghue on Saturday evening.
This was despite the Kerryman notching just a single point, albeit probably the best score of the game. Also, that score came with less than ten minutes remaining.
In the post-match interview, O'Donoghue himself admitted that he feared being substituted due to his subdued performance.
The award caused much astonishment online, and even some bemusement in the RTÉ studio.
Martin Carney was watching a different game
— Joe Brolly (@JoeBrolly1993) July 18, 2015
RTE need to have a chat with themselves on this James O'Donoghue love-in. Man of the match Martin Carney? Stop please. David Moran maybe...
— Tony Leen (@tonyleen) July 18, 2015
Firstly, huge fan of James, but that is simply lazy lazy stuff from @TheSundayGame ... #CorkVKerry
— Jamie Wall (@Jamwall7) July 18, 2015
Paul Geaney, David Moran, Maher... James Loughrey was Cork's best shagging player. Between Tom Carr & now this. I dunno. I give up. #GAA
— Jamie Wall (@Jamwall7) July 18, 2015
James O'Donoghue man of the match? Will be as embarrassed as Peter Canavan was picking up an All Star in 2005. #GAA
— John Fogarty (@JohnFogartyIrl) July 18, 2015
Colm O'Rourke attempted to mitigate for Carney by saying it was a tough decision as no player really stuck his head up for either team.
This viewpoint would certainly overlook the contributions of David Moran and Shane Enright for Kerry. The former being a force for the Kingdom in the middle of the park, especially in the second half, and the latter putting the shackles on Brian Hurley, one of Cork's main dangermen.
As the match came to a close, Ger Canning - perhaps influenced by Carney's nod to O'Donoghue - theorised that the Legion player's marker James Loughrey would be having nightmares shaped by his task in Killarney.
Apparently the stuff of nightmares now equates to restricting the 2014 Player of the Year to a single point in the Munster final.
If Canning had been charged with creating Freddy Krueger, he probably would have cast Tom Hanks in the role and had him deliver puppies rather than death.
Picture credit: Sportsfile
