Mayo and Dublin supporters are locked in disagreement over Lee Keegan, one of the Mayo's most influential and controversial defenders.
As Mayo supporters groups complained today, a host of Dublin players have all drawn attention to Keegan's marking of Connolly. The dread phrase "pulling and dragging" was deployed liberally. Read more here.
Joe Brolly joked immediately after the game about the sheer number of Keegan's opponents who receive yellow cards for wrestling with him. "One of the amazing coincidences of the GAA", he said.
On this week's edition of the Hard Shoulder, presenter Anthony Moyles was joined by Ray Cosgrave and John Casey.
Former Mayo forward Casey said he is a bit "shocked" by the barrage of attacks on Keegan's play. He said that Keegan is an impeccable player
I am a bit worried. Maurice Deegan, I hope he doesn't think he has to lay down a marker very early there, because that would be a disaster for the game. But from a Mayo point of view, Lee Keegan is one our best footballers of all time. I mean, people are saying he antagonises and incites this and that. He has an impeccable record. He was red carded once and it was rescinded.
Connolly, a phenomenal player as well. Doesn't run around with a halo on his head either, let's be honest about this. But I think they're the two finest exponents of the game that the country has ever seen. Just let them play.
As regards the Keegan thing, I'm a little bit shocked. Someone brought a paper into me an hour ago in the shop and showed it to me. I think it's a bit of a nonsense really. Former player coming out... Lee Keegan has an impeccable record. He's been sent out to do jobs, to mark dangermen. His own game, his attacking game has been curtailed a little as a result but he's a phenomenal player. He certainly doesn't have a dirty streak. He has an aggressive, winning mentality.
:Listen to the podcast here:
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The lads were speaking on the tenth episode of this year's Hard Shoulder podcast, a weekly GAA podcast hosted by Meath legend Anthony Moyles. The podcast will run for the rest of the season and will feature many more special guests, and scientists [citation needed] believe it will improve your life by somewhere in the region of 84%.
In addition to the big interview, we quiz our guests and discuss some of the big stories to arise from the past week.
Previous interviewees include Dublin's Bernard Brogan, Kildare forward Johnny Doyle, Kilkenny attacker Richie Power, Wexford's Matty Forde, and the Sunday Game's Michael Lyster. Listen here.
You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes and Stitcher.
