Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO
STEPHEN HUNT CAUSED a furore by implying that GAA stars would struggle to live the life of a top-level soccer player. Joe Brolly, among others, subsequently criticised Hunt’s comments.
Cathal Noonan / INPHO Cathal Noonan / INPHO / INPHO
Writing in The Sunday Independent, O’Rourke claimed that the GPA “does not exist as a radical body acting on behalf of players anymore”. Dessie Farrell was among the many people to voice his dissatisfaction with the comments.
PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
Before stepping down from his ITV duties just prior to the World Cup, Roy Keane was still causing plenty of controversy as a pundit. After Hull manager Steve Bruce suggested his centre-back Curtis Davies was good enough to play for England, Keane made light of these claims, before the defender hit back at the Ireland assistant boss’ remarks.
James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
Rarely far away from controversy, Dunphy accidentally swore while live on air during a World Cup broadcast. He then apologised for this indiscretion, and the panel consequently returned to the more civil assertions about, erm, “granny-killing”.
Peter Byrne Peter Byrne
The supposedly ‘shy and retiring’ Paul Scholes had plenty to say in 2014, yet perhaps his most damning comments were reserved for Arsenal and in particular, Jack Wilshere.
James Crombie James Crombie
George Hook doubted whether Ireland had what it takes to beat a Springboks side who had previously overcome the reigning world champions, yet the RTÉ pundit was forced to eat his words, which he did with a somewhat surprising (by punditry standards) level of grace.
Lorcan Doherty Lorcan Doherty
Earlier in the year, Joe Brolly had suggested in a newspaper column that the Kerry production line had ground “to a halt,” so there was only one thing on Kieran Donaghy’s mind after his side had just claimed a spectacular All-Ireland final win.
Former Irish Olympian Jerry Kieran expressed disapproval of the government’s decision to fund the GAA with taxpayers’ money, having previously suggested the association’s athletes were “unfit”. Unsurprisingly, not everyone was best pleased with these remarks.
Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
In an interview on Off the Ball, Neil Francis made some inflammatory remarks regarding gay people and sport. The comments caused outrage, and Francis issued a hasty apology thereafter.
Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO
Paul Kimmage spoke out about the alleged problems surrounding Irish rugby and its relationship with performance-enhancing drugs, after a book by former French international Laurent Benezech had initially raised awareness of the potential issue. Jamie Heaslip was among those to subsequently play down these suggestions.
Speaking on The Sunday Game, Martin McHugh made the highly contentious implication that Kerry’s Colm Cooper was a “two-trick pony”. Following widespread dismissal of his claim, McHugh later admitted that the phrase was ill-judged.
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Kimmage, Dunphy, Hunt and 8 other sports pundits who took 2014 by storm
1. Stephen Hunt
STEPHEN HUNT CAUSED a furore by implying that GAA stars would struggle to live the life of a top-level soccer player. Joe Brolly, among others, subsequently criticised Hunt’s comments.
2. Colm O’Rourke
Writing in The Sunday Independent, O’Rourke claimed that the GPA “does not exist as a radical body acting on behalf of players anymore”. Dessie Farrell was among the many people to voice his dissatisfaction with the comments.
3. Roy Keane
Before stepping down from his ITV duties just prior to the World Cup, Roy Keane was still causing plenty of controversy as a pundit. After Hull manager Steve Bruce suggested his centre-back Curtis Davies was good enough to play for England, Keane made light of these claims, before the defender hit back at the Ireland assistant boss’ remarks.
4. Eamon Dunphy
Rarely far away from controversy, Dunphy accidentally swore while live on air during a World Cup broadcast. He then apologised for this indiscretion, and the panel consequently returned to the more civil assertions about, erm, “granny-killing”.
5. Paul Scholes
The supposedly ‘shy and retiring’ Paul Scholes had plenty to say in 2014, yet perhaps his most damning comments were reserved for Arsenal and in particular, Jack Wilshere.
6. George Hook
George Hook doubted whether Ireland had what it takes to beat a Springboks side who had previously overcome the reigning world champions, yet the RTÉ pundit was forced to eat his words, which he did with a somewhat surprising (by punditry standards) level of grace.
7. Joe Brolly
Earlier in the year, Joe Brolly had suggested in a newspaper column that the Kerry production line had ground “to a halt,” so there was only one thing on Kieran Donaghy’s mind after his side had just claimed a spectacular All-Ireland final win.
8. Jerry Kiernan
Former Irish Olympian Jerry Kieran expressed disapproval of the government’s decision to fund the GAA with taxpayers’ money, having previously suggested the association’s athletes were “unfit”. Unsurprisingly, not everyone was best pleased with these remarks.
9. Neil Francis
In an interview on Off the Ball, Neil Francis made some inflammatory remarks regarding gay people and sport. The comments caused outrage, and Francis issued a hasty apology thereafter.
10. Paul Kimmage
Paul Kimmage spoke out about the alleged problems surrounding Irish rugby and its relationship with performance-enhancing drugs, after a book by former French international Laurent Benezech had initially raised awareness of the potential issue. Jamie Heaslip was among those to subsequently play down these suggestions.
11. Martin McHugh
Speaking on The Sunday Game, Martin McHugh made the highly contentious implication that Kerry’s Colm Cooper was a “two-trick pony”. Following widespread dismissal of his claim, McHugh later admitted that the phrase was ill-judged.
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2014 by storm Colm O'Rourke Eamon Dunphy George Hook opinion makers Paul Scholes Roy Keane Sport Review 2014 sports pundits Stephen hunt