JOE BROLLY HAS weighed in on the spat between Wexford hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald and analyst Michael Duignan.
During last week’s All-Ireland quarter-final between Fitzgerald’s charges and Waterford, Duignan took to Twitter to share his disapproval of the sweeper system in hurling.
Speaking to reporters after the defeat, Fitzgerald then had a cut at the RTÉ pundit and former Offaly hurler, before the debacle rolled through the week with both parties adding fuel to the fire through the media.
Joe Brolly appeared on RTÉ’s Saturday Sport today to discuss whether GAA pundits are too harsh when assessing players, teams and managers.
He was asked for his opinion on the ongoing spat, which he labelled a ‘good debate’.
“I can enjoy Davy Fitzgerald as much as the next man but nobody craves the spotlight more than Davy,” Brolly told Des Cahill.
“I was behind Davy at the Leinster final and every time he knew the camera would come to him he would go hyperactive. I have no doubt watching him that it is all a part of the act.
“Don’t tell me that Davy loves the spotlight, he craves it. He wants to be the centre of attention at all times.”
The conversation then progressed to the wider debate over sweeper systems, before Brolly returned to his point on Fitzgerald’s love for the limelight.
“The man would crawl over crushed glass to get to a mic and he loves publicity,” Brolly added.
“That’s fine but to say that it is unfair for Michael Duignan to take him on about the sweeper system? It is a huge debate in hurling.
“It’s a huge ethical debate in hurling about whether there should be sweepers because we’ve seen what they’ve done in football.”
“They are two big boys who are well able to handle each other and as far as I’m concerned they are meeting as equals. Davy is very quick to deliver his opinions and he delivers them strongly, as does Michael, and that is the essence of good debate.”
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