Sure how could you win?
The nature of drawn games – no less a drawn final – means that there’s no closure. Tensions are still high – they’re higher if anything – and one set of fans doesn’t disappear into hiding for the night to avoid the celebrations and gloating.
No, they all hang around and they all want to be heard above the other. Mayo and Dublin drew their match on Sunday – if you hadn’t heard – so social media was filled with, that’s right, Mayo and Dublin fans still. All of them seething about black cards and no black cards, all of them seething at the result and the antics and each other.
New flashpoints and screenshots and controversies were propping up here there and everywhere – except on The Sunday Game.
On top of all that, both sets of supporters were told they’d have to wait another two weeks to find any resolutions.
The internet wasn’t the friendliest of places on Sunday night so poor Dessie Dolan, Tomás Ó Sé and especially Ciaran Whelan were sitting ducks by the time The Sunday Game’s highlights show came around – it’s usually just a celebration, going back and forward to the banquet, everyone in a good mood. Easy job.
But this was a draw and people wanted justice. For everything. For anything.
It didn’t help that the three of them all backed Dublin for the replay.
The Sunday Game panel turn their thoughts to the replay between Dublin and Mayo and give their predictions. https://t.co/jRZInVOyzR
— The Sunday Game (@TheSundayGame) September 18, 2016
So it was Mayo fans’ turn to rage and they weren’t one bit happy.
The analysis of Mayo was labelled ‘patronising’.
Staggeringly patronising analysis about #mayogaa on @TheSundayGame. Loaded deck too, with Whelan on the panel. Pathetic stuff.
— Mayo GAA Blog (@MayoGAABlog) September 18, 2016
Ciaran Whelan was never going to wash – not without a Mayo man beside him (even a Connacht presence might’ve helped).
. @ciaranwhelan23 spreading the propaganda
— Terry Reilly (@TerReilly) September 18, 2016
Because the Connacht folk had sympathy for the analysis too. Cake didn’t like the John Small decision.
MOTM goes 2 a plyr from a team who were beaten on everything but scoreboard !! Was also Dub free playr with Kmc playing sweeper!
— Shane Curran (@shanetcurran) September 18, 2016
Parkinson didn’t like the Cake decision.
https://twitter.com/Woolberto/status/777624980863520768
But you’d nearly have forgotten there were two teams – and that one was clearly better.
Astonishing how the Sunday Game panel are concentrating so much on how Dublin will improve. Will #mayogaa let them? No chance!
— Louis Gunnigan (@LouisGunnigan) September 18, 2016
The backlash begins.
https://twitter.com/misemisemiseme/status/777625770457989120
Actually, it began long ago.
when there's a choice I now watch the games on Sky far better analysis from Horan, Canavan and McGuinness.
— Chris McCann (@canntoya) September 18, 2016
Not even an explanation offered.
"More improvement from Dubs"… who will improve and why? Anyone? instead of generalist nonsense #SundayGame
— John Madden (@johnmadden2706) September 18, 2016
Justice for Vaughan.
https://twitter.com/NiamhK467/status/777752655796039680
And for Rochford.
Watching @TheSundayGame panelists say Dublin had an off day-No,Mayo rattled them.Ref afraid of Dublin #MayoVDub
— Sophie Colgan (@colgan_sophie) September 19, 2016
Just put a Mayo man in there next day if you have a Dubliner.
Sunday game Dublin 'love in' bias was sickening @RTEgaa @TheSundayGame
— Paul McNicholas (@Makluse) September 18, 2016
The GAA Hour podcast is out every Monday and Thursday. Subscribe here on iTunes or listen on Soundcloud (if you want to).
