PAT SPILLANE APPEARED on the Late Late Show last night ahead of the The Sunday Game returning to our screens on 17 May.
He talked to Ryan Tubridy about a number topics, ranging from his daughter’s emigration to Dubai to Tv3′s documentary on Arranmore fisherman Neilie Kavanagh. After a passionate discussion about rural Ireland, the topic changed to one of his other great passions – GAA.
The ultimate thing in life is to get paid for your hobby, to be a soccer player or a singer. The next best thing in life is to get paid for talking about your hobby or writing about you hobby. And I write with the Sunday World, and I’ve written every Sunday since October 1991.”
Tubridy then asked him about The Sunday Game, which Spillane has now been involved with for over two decades.
The Sunday Game is an institution, it’s a brilliant brilliant programme. This year we have arguably the greatest hurler of all time. Henry Shefflin has joined us. I think while RTÉ comes in for a lot of criticism, it’s sports coverage is unrivalled. I don’t mind saying, it’s down to the analysts. Whether it’s racing with Ted Walsh or George Hook.”
This was of course a great lead in to a question about his relationship with Joe Brolly, and Spillane didn’t pass up the opportunity to discuss the things that annoy him about Brolly.
“One of the successes of The Sunday Game is the analysts. Fellas that have been there and done that. They’ve delivered on the playing field, or off the field as a manager. They’re opinionated, stubborn, full of egos and they’re unpredictable. But Joe is a barrister and it’s very important to realize that.
If I said to Joe ‘up’, Joe has to automatically say ‘down’. If I said to Joe now ‘that’s Ryan Tubridy’, Joe would say ‘no it’s Brendan ‘O Connor’.”
He did have some nice things to say about Brolly, saying he was a marvellous and remarkable man. In particular, he highlighted the fact that Brolly had donated his kidney to a man he didn’t really know well. But it wasn’t long before he was back having a dig at his fellow pundit.
“He is a remarkable man but he would drive you bananas, absolutely bananas. One week he could be on a crusade about something and you would argue against him. The following week his crusade would be the exact opposite. He’s had more conversions on the road to Damascus than St.Paul. Sometimes I just annoy him. Just before he starts going, I’d whisper to him ‘one All-Ireland medal Joe. No-one gives a shite’.
And that bothers Joe. If there was an argument about football in a pub in Kerry and a fella with one all-Ireland medal tried to get involved, they wouldn’t even listen to him. There would be lads with three or four in there.”
https://vine.co/v/emAz2Jw0VJa
Nobody commented on rugby like the late, great Fred Cogley, an absolute legend
@Lefty Cries: michael kirenan drop at goal is OVER
@Lefty Cries: McRingland
@Lefty Cries: He was a brilliant commentator.
@Patrick O’Leary: …Nick Mullin by a mile the best of the current bunch.
@Lefty Cries: well said. Alan Quinlan is a brutal commentator
@ray flynn: on the bright side at least we don’t have to listen to Hugh cahill tonight
@Lefty Cries: left and wide. Mac O Ringland
I dunno who thought it’d be a good idea to start our autumn series against NZ. We were totally undercooked as you’d expect. James Ryan shouldn’t be near the team and Frawley had an absolute shocker
Literally no atmosphere / how come likes of South Africa can have stadium rocking for every single home game??
@Patrick O’Leary: too many corporate tickets
@Patrick O’Leary: I am here… the atmosphere is amazing.
@Paul Ennis: Agree its very good
@Paul Ennis: worst nz atmosphere in 25 yrs by a country mile.
Henderson is not International quality
@Con Cussed: neither is frawley
@Weather Safe Roofing: harsh
@Con Cussed: told ya Izzy
@Weather Safe Roofing: bull scutter
@Con Cussed: nonsense!
One of the poorest games I’ve seen in recent times between 2 top tier teams
@Pat O Dwyer: since when are ireland top tier team, never got to a world cup semi
@burrito girl: you clearly have no idea of how rugby rankings work. Do you think we are in the same tier as Portugal and Chile?
Silly question from me…you obviously do
Taking Crawley off Frawley on was the loosing of the game
@Ross Clancy: Crawley was at nothing, Murray for Gibson Park was the end.
@Joshua Walsh: The end was 8:10
@Ross Clancy: we were winning when Crowley left the pitch!
Henderson? He is a nightmare these days. Farrell will have to accept that we have better options. Poor Frawley looks shocked. This is a poor NZ team.
Well that was lacklustre stuff…… zero positives to take away from that 80minutes in the Aviva. We should be happy it’s only a 10point deficit
Crowley wasn’t great today, but wow frawley has had a nightmare since he’s come on
@Tony Metcalfe: we were winning when Crowley left the field!
Do people actually care about this friendly game for posh boys?
@James Rowan: yes millions do numps
@Shawn: including James
Quinlan on co-commentary good lord…..
@Patrick O’Leary: I had to switch over to TNT there
Its far from a rugby ball that i was born, but that was woeful.
I fear a good hiding tonight. Hopefully I’m wrong . COYBIG.
@Logs Byrne: on what basis/grounds lol???
@Logs Byrne: Well Ireland are favourites with the bookies and 18/1 on the draw. Can’t wait, COYBIG.
@Logs Byrne: Those day’s are gone
@Logs Byrne: Think it’s
COYGIG ?
@Gary Galligan: As the great Muhammad Ali once said “ I Told YA”
It’s only a friendly. Relax everyone.
@Joe Beirne: No friendlyies in rugby
@Shawn: ok so what cup do they win for this?
@Joe Beirne: here Joe, go back and troll the football articles. You obviously haven’t a clue here.
@Kevin Dillon: well whatever they win it won’t be Ireland winning it
@Joe Beirne: pride cup full of guinness,,,
@Kevin Dillon: Even kevin knows your a troll and both ye suppport utd
@Shawn: drop my milk tray at the front door please
@Joe Beirne: sausage
@Joe Beirne: Spoken like someone who has never played sport
@Pat O Dwyer: ha you reckon, I’m not been educated in a private school so I’ve not played this game
Worst performance for a very very long time im off to bed
@Shawn: how can u go to bed you intimated that u were at the match earlier commenting on the atmosphere.
@Shawn: but we have better players than them……….
@mark sheehan: On the tube grrat atmosphere
@Fred: great
Shawn you set up another account to answer , you’re caught out.
@mark sheehan: watching on tv mate i can here the crowd
@Ray Ridge: We do we cant all the time i said AB would win my prediction right yours wrong as per
@mark sheehan: And my aunt
Way to many errors
Awful stuff from us. We’re rudderless out there.
@Joshua Walsh: And yet 3 points behind
@Shawn: we haven’t been in their 22 all game. Has Hugo hit the line in attack yet?
@Joshua Walsh: I know thats why 3 points behind not bad i said AB would win this but never writing off ireland no scrum no lineout still in it didnt think furlong be missed so bad
No lineout no scrum only one winner
@Shawn: same problem in the WC, six nations just gone and one before. Paulie still not corrected it. He needs to go, every other top team has a functioning line out.
We are hanging on by the coat tails. New Zealand superior in every aspect unfortunately. I know I said it’s inconceivable Ireland could lose this, but after 20 minutes, it’s actually inconceivable to think New Zealand could lose this. They are far superior.
@Ray Ridge: ireland have better players just no lineout and scrum at the moment i like ireland even without lineout scrum so phyiscal
@Shawn: inconceivable way way to strong of word remember we are better side
@Shawn: Stop, bar 2 gifted penalties we haven’t fired a shot. How on earth New Zealand are only 3 up I’ll never know. How you can have no line-out and no scrum but still have the better players is also beyond me.
@Ray Ridge: pens were not gifted im afraid to say most the decisions also going with the AB s We have better players even without a scrum and lineout mayby thats why were still in it praise the lads some great effort defending ffs stop
Ireland to win.
Crowley did nothing wrong, and Frawleys a spoofer! big time backfire lol!
@Thesaltyurchin: Frawley is no more an international rugby player than my cat is. He hopeless. The hype around this is unbelievable. If we are depending on this guy we are finished.
@Thesaltyurchin: correct about frawley but crowley offers nothing
@Thesaltyurchin: almost correct Crowley did nothing.
@Ray Ridge: spoken like a true biased munster sac, crowley is nothing to write home about!!
@Ray Ridge: Mike Catt? Was very good actually
@Thesaltyurchin: except we were winning when Crowley left the field!
@Thesaltyurchin: Yup. Leinster spoofers are only able to lean into players from other provinces, IMAGINE for a second he played the way Frawley did?? There would be 5 articles about it. Chris, Aiden and the bais would never let anyone forget.
@mickey mac: He’s the best 10 in the country by a mile, which is really damning of everyone else.
Imagine paying 120 euro to watch that. Terrible on the pitch and the atmosphere was terrible
Terrible game. Bad bench to come on when you are down (I know the players are quality but not built for chasing). Next week please get Baird, timony, cormac I on. Frawley had a shocker.
Henderson well past it
Very poor from ireland and we only 3 points behind we need to sort out the scrum and lineouts no lack of effect do some strong defending hopefully we can start playing rugby second halve
@Shawn: wtf
There’s a serious rebuild job needed. Just look at that bench alone ffs. New Zealand weren’t even that good yet they win at ease. We have no scrum, no line-out, no maul, no discipline, no backline play. We have nothing. Ireland will finish 4th in the six nations. This nonsense chat about Doris being world class and best 8 in the world has to stop. Every big game he’s had for Leinster and Ireland he’s been totally overshadowed by the opposition backrow. He may be world class in the URC against Zebre and dragons. Also Frawley is in danger of being the most over hyped rugby player in the history of the game. He’s dreadful absolutely dreadful. Irish rugbyis at the end of the road I’m afraid. Serious rebuild job required.
@Ray Ridge: chill just rusty bro
@Gary Galligan: Stop, there can be no more excuses. Time to call a spade a spade here.
@Ray Ridge: Wel end up winning the 6 ntns
@Gary Galligan: We won’t even beat Scotland based on that.
@Ray Ridge: yeah serious rebuild, drop crowley, Murray and o’mahoney!!
@Ray Ridge: why don’t you support your own team, they were beaten last week by the all blacks you spoofer
@Ray Ridge: Lost a game at home v AB calm down
@Ray Ridge: God your so annoying
Going to b tough. Ireland just. Cmon
@Gary Galligan: call me overly optimistic Gary…… I’ve put my €20 down on this crazy treble…… Ireland HT, Ireland FT & to win by 5 or more!!!!! As George Michael sang ‘ you gotta have faith ‘, lol
@Frank Mc Carthy: But of luck !
@Frank Mc Carthy: hahahahahaha,omg you are so funny Frank
@Frank Mc Carthy: I’ve 10r on Ireland by more than 11. Why not
@Gary Galligan: mmmm…. bit ambitious for me….. what odds on the 11+??
@HisMastersAlibi: that you Ray?
@Frank Mc Carthy: 2 to 1
@Gary Galligan: mmmm, 11+ is a big ask, best of luck
@Kevvy kerrr: Madonna had a great song back in the day,Ray of light,mighty dancing went on.
@Frank Mc Carthy: Delighted you lost that.
@Ciaran O Donoghue: fair dinkums, jeez them all black lads sure are playing well tonight!!! I’ve contributed another €20 to the boylesports Christmas jolly, lol
@Frank Mc Carthy: Sure you’re not watching the match, you’re buried into your phone.
@Frank Mc Carthy: Stick to the 80s tunes Frank and leave the bookies to me.
Who”s ray
@Shawn: what’s ray? Answers on a postcard.
@Shawn: quickshop
Nic Berry has had a bit of a nightmare but hasn’t been helped by his team.
Is this a friendly or test match?, according to virgin tv were are a better team, always the same media build them up, big games in world cup when it matters ireland bottle it
@burrito girl: What you get when you have a Leinster bias panel critiquing their pals.
As Joe said, we gonna beat those black and tans, or something similar lol
@Lefty Cries: forgotten that gaffe, ah it was funny though
@Frank Mc Carthy: Joe is a nice guy, but not cut out for that role, I have a lot of respect for the man
@Lefty Cries: He’s an apologist for genocide
Ugh, it’s you again Williams
@Thesaltyurchin: aargh the pain…
@Thesaltyurchin: he’s wild, barely human, one step from communicating with hand painting.
Not even remotely good enough. Worrying lack of depth, and it seemed like there was zero atmosphere at Aviva. 3rd or 4th place in 6 nations beckons
If that’s a penalty, the game of rugby is finished. Absolutely finished.
The Aviva is the worst atmosphere in world rugby. A shocking night in every way. Frawley was embarrrasing. Crowley not much better. Hopefully this will put an end to the nonsense that we are the best team in the world.
@Aidan Farrell: Wow. Frawley comes out on a unicycle, juggling lemons but you just cant comment on a Leinster player? is it a condition or something.
Well done number one team in the world. XD
@Ulrich Holtzhausen: Look, I, for one, never believed we are the number one team in the world. We are number 5. South Africa, New Zealand, France, and England are all better than us.
@Ray Ridge: No there not we are were number 1 for a reason and we are better than all cant win every game
Stone useless
No chance if you don’t have the ball!!
Getting robbed blind here
Where is Ray?
@Michael Murray: All week I’m thinking there’s no way Ireland can lose this. Number one in the world, it’s Autumn, we’re at home, we’re fresh, against a battered and brusised New Zealand after a 6 day turnaround. But despite all the that, the closer we get to kick off the more worried I’m getting. It’s New Zealand after all ffs.
@Ray Ridge: I’m as nervous as you ray…anybody discarding NZ know nothing about rugby. They can rip teams apart if in that mood
@Ray Ridge: Yes its New Zealand
@Stuart: I’m very worried about Talea. He could give Lowe the run around. We’ll need to deprive them of ball otherwise they will rip us apart.
@Stuart: of course we always have the other variable. The officials. How will they interpret Scrums, home town decisions, etc etc
That was on the cards from the get go!
COYBIG .. will be a tough brawl .. best of luck a chairde ..
Christ, O’ Driscoll so negative with his commentary, at least he gives credit for the try.
COYBIG!
Should have replaced Andy Farrell after the world cup. He has an abysmal RWC record, going all the way back to his group exit with England in 2015. Now he’s gone for a year to coach a lions team that needs no coach to beat the Aussies? What a joke.
New Zealand the whole ball and Wer only 3 behind. There best our worst
@Gary Galligan: Thats a good sign we have no lineout and scrum as well
@Shawn: it’s a great sign, great sign for New Zealand.
Andrew porter
Back down to earth
Average joe McCarty
H