Jerry Kiernan let rip at the fitness of GAA players - especially footballers - on Off The Ball last night, with a pretty petty rant in a discussion purportedly about Sport Council funding. Kerryman Kiernan clearly has no love for the roundball and was particularly scathing about the Carlow and Wicklow (and presumably all non-Division 1) football players. On Twitter this morning, intercounty footballers have been having their say about Kiernan's comment. Not surprisingly, perhaps, they don't agree.
Had to watch the Olympics on bbc because I couldn't hack his mullet, now Jerry Kiernan's giving out about GAA grants...u sir, are an asshole
— Ciarán Lenehan (@CiaranLen) February 15, 2013
Maybe Jerry Kiernan should spend a week as an inter county GAA player, might change his views on whether we deserve our grants or not..
— Emmet Bolton (@EmmetBolton) February 15, 2013
Jerry Kiernan has managed to insult every GAA player in Ireland,there's a lot of madness in that mullet of his
— seamus kenny (@shamkenny80) February 15, 2013
Jerry bloody Kiernan. What the hell does he know about gaelic games. Jamsie is letting him off way too easy #offtheball
— Colm Parkinson (@Woolberto) February 14, 2013
Irish athletics great Jerry Kiernan doesn't think GAA players are fit. #bitharshjerry
— Sean McCormack (@StanMcCormack) February 15, 2013
I think we can safely say Jerry Kiernan doesn't like the gaa #tosser
— Patrick Curtin (@pacurtin) February 14, 2013
Jerry Kiernan has some cheek criticising GAA player grant scheme. & even greater arrogance implying they don't train hard enough to earn it.
— Mike Quirke (@Mike_Quirke) February 15, 2013
Other Irish athletes have reacted to Kiernan's comments, including Thomas Chamney who has been on the receiving end of Kiernan's ire in the past.
Never thought I'd hear jerry Kiernan say he agreed with me on something. Pity he then proceeded to go on a useless rant @secondcaptains
— thomas chamney (@madrasaysrelax) February 14, 2013
Swimmer Barry Murphy, one of the first Irish athletes to complain on Twitter about the cut to grants to Irish Olympians, offered his own two cents.
@madrasaysrelax @secondcaptains just heard it. Jerry doesn't really get where we're coming. I don't begrudge GAA but HighPerform underfunded
— Barry Murphy (@Barry_J_Murphy) February 14, 2013