Has Martin McHugh actually joined The Sunday Game?

The_Kew_Tour wrote: »

I have no problem with what Brolly said himself the other day. I even mentioned it on the Cork thread that he had a point. And he has.

I have been reading McHugh articles in the Star paper for number of years and he really digs into Cork. I remember the Monday after the AI and he basically said had Down been wearing a Black Kit instead of Yellow they have won.(Yes he did say that)

McHugh, Spillane or Brolly have every right to be critical of Cork when they deserve it, but the 2 Ulster lads take it too far at times. When Brolly was basically mocking certain players in Cork team thats taking it too far.

Well I dont read the Star so Ill have to take your word for it. Disappointed to hear that. As for Brolly- used to tolerate him because he was intersting to listen to-now i just fin him a crashing bore;anyway wouldnt worry too much bout him or spillane.

Lemlin wrote: »

McHugh is one pundit I can't stand. He has a clear dislike for Cavan and can't hide it.

Last year for example, stating that Donegal U21s lost the final to Cavan but would be the happier team because they had more players capable of making the step up to senior level. He said he saw none in the Cavan team. Pure bitterness given the fact that Killian Clarke, Fergal Flanagan, Jason McLoughlin and Jack Brady, all established seniors at the time, were playing for Cavan. Clarke went on to win an Ulster All Star at corner back at the age of 20 last year.

A few years back he also described Cavan as the worst team in Ulster despite the fact that we had just beaten Fermanagh and had beaten Antrim the previous season.

These are just some of the snippets I've seen.

For me, Ciaran Whelan, and I was no fan of his as a player, is the best analyst on any station. If only they could get more like him.

I like Whelan as well for what is worth. I dont read The Star so cant comment on what he says in there either, but I dont agree that he hates Cavan. He may hate the way we beat Donegal, ( I dont know what he said after we beat them) but I seen him analysing us on BBC, back in the day where we were beating nobody, and he never went to town on us. He basically said that it was disappointing the way Cavan football was going (at the time), and praising the support from the fans, and that they deserved better. Neither him nor Burns went over the top in either criticising or praising teams in general, and for me at least, thats the way it should be

Cork for me do tend to attract a lot of criticism, I don't know if McHugh is really any worse than anybody else though.

McHugh at his best gives you insightful analysis, often with the Sunday Game live it seems pretty obvious stuff, McHugh will often point out tactics that aren't that clear from watching it on TV, you're getting the benefit of his playing and managerial experience.

He does fabulous analysis of the games on radio, as long as you are not a county that he has a deep dislike off. More than once, I have been amazed at how well he is able to go into the deep intricacies of a game and, point out what managers are trying to do and why they are or aren't working. His knowledge makes a total mockery of the clueless crap that the likes of Marty Morrissey & Ger Canning spout during games.

But he does take some unmerciful shots at counties he doesn't like. A couple of years ago, he was doing Dubins league game vs Donegal on Highland Radio. About an hour before the game, the players from both sides came out onto the pitch for a casual kick about. A few of the Dubs were wearing those large beats headphones, as they had just come off a 3 hr bus journey. Wee Marty said that he didn't like to see the Dubs wearing them, as he thought it was "arrogant". Then a few Donegal lads walked out on to the pitch. Lo and behold a few of them had the same headphones on. Did he mention them? Did he like hell. Nope, it was just them arrogant Dubs, being the fancy dans with their fancy headphones. Jesus wept ! :rolleyes:

Then before last years league semi final double header, he had a go at Dubs fans for not being true GAA fans, as they didn't come in early to watch the game that was on before the Dubs game. I dunno about you lot, but I have a life outside of being a GAA fan. I would love to spend all day, every day, at Croke Park, doing nothing but watching matches. But sometimes, life get in the way, as I have other commitments and calls on my time. Does that make me a "bad" GAA fan? Apparently, in Martin McHugh's eyes it does.

I have heard bring up that kind of petty crap, that has zero bearing or relevance to actual games, in other counties games too. So it makes it hard for me to take him seriously over all.

Gael85 wrote: »

McHugh loves to talk about Dublin and get his digs in,.Most of these Dublin players have won All Irelands@Senior/U21, National League,Club Championship more than McHugh ever won so should take no notice of him

Hes won all irelands at senior and u21,is a 2 time all star and former footballer of the year,managed Cavan to their only ulster title in 40 years,oh yeah and wiped the floor with your star player keith barr in the all ireland final, so be a good boy and stop making a fool of yourself.

harpsman wrote: »

Hes won all irelands at senior and u21,is a 2 time all star and former footballer of the year,managed Cavan to their only ulster title in 40 years,oh yeah and wiped the floor with your star player keith barr in the all ireland final, so be a good boy and stop making a fool of yourself.

He's gone record to say that he, at least, went into the '92 final determined not to shake his opponent's hand before the match. Reckoned poor big cuddly Keith was very discomforted by his action, or lack of it, as the case may be.

Always thought he had an ongoing liking of Cavan, but also that he has zero time for the dubs.

Gael85 wrote: »

McHugh loves to talk about Dublin and get his digs in,.Most of these Dublin players have won All Irelands@Senior/U21, National League,Club Championship more than McHugh ever won so should take no notice of him

That is all well and good, if you are a player, playing in the actual games. They don't have to listen to him spout his rubbish on the wireless, or on the tellybox. But we poor supporters aren't so lucky. We have no choice but to listen to him, especially when he is given the really high profile gigs.

He was Ger Cannings co commenator for last years All Ireland final. I was at the game, but when watching my recording of it later on, I was highly amused to hear speculation from McHugh, that BB's second goal was illegal. Not one single journalist or broadcaster or analyst mentioned this possibility after the game, even though all the goals in the game were analysed to death. Yet wee Marty is falling all over himself to come up with a bull$hit reason to deny Dublin the win. You can't but be pissed off at that kind of thing, no matter who you are.

harpsman wrote: »

Hes won all irelands at senior and u21,is a 2 time all star and former footballer of the year,managed Cavan to their only ulster title in 40 years,oh yeah and wiped the floor with your star player keith barr in the all ireland final, so be a good boy and stop making a fool of yourself.[/quote

Nobody making fools of themselves here kiddo.just facts.
For years McHugh has slated this Dublin team before they Won All Irelands in 2011 & last year in particular getting sly digs at Brogan brothers over the years in his column in the Star.These lads have proved themselves and have medals to prove it now.

Stoner wrote: »

I also like David Brady I think he is usually spot on. I like Whelan too but on RTE Darragh O Se is my favourite. I was also delighted to see T O Se last week on the panel. I thought he was great. The way he spoke about both Cork and Dublin was fair, respectful and on the money.

I think the guys with more than one all Ireland carry more weight. Apart from Pat Spillane they don't seem to rub it in either.

I think a lot of people want to see new blood in there. Certainly guys from the successful Tyrone and Kerry teams. Some of the other lads are way past it IMHO the game has come on so much since they played it.

Oh great. Just what we need. Yet another Kerry man working in the meeja. Coz God knows, there aren't enough of them as it is. :rolleyes:

I agree with you on Tomas. I think he'll be better at punditry than his brother. He'll tell it like it is, with no bull$hit. Far be it from me to accuse a Kerry man of talking out of both sides of his mouth, ( ) but Daragh is juggling a lot of different media balls in the air. Some times I think that he tries to keep too many people happy, instead of just saying what he actually thinks.