Yesterday's National League final was a game which Kerry never looked like winning. Their goal threat was non-existent.
Though he started the game at midfield, Kieran Donaghy often popped up at full-forward as Kerry attempted to utilise his height to manufacture an opportunity for the green flag to be raised. It was a tactic which Dublin dutifully nullified.
How it was nullified is something which annoyed Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice. In the post-match press conference, Fitzmaurice used some strong language to describe the treatment of Donaghy.
It is language which has since received plenty of criticism. Fitzmaurice, quoted by the Irish Examiner, called the Dublin defence's handling of the 33-year-old as 'rape and pillage'.
Before half-time, when he was inside there, he caught a ball inside and there was a very soft free given out. There was basically rape and pillage going on inside in front of the goals at the other side in the second half and we didn’t get anything. It’s frustrating but it is what it is. We knew it coming up, we know playing the games that that’s the way it’s going to be and we just have to keep going.
Use of an emotive word such as rape - especially in regards to sporting events - is always going to provoke a negative reaction. That has certainly happened with Fitzmaurice today.
Idea-GET YOUR BRAIN IN GEAR B4 YOU SPEAK! Eamonn Fitzmaurice: ‘rape and pillage going on’ https://t.co/b2pBSUl65F Belittle Rape to Sport 😠
— RavenousWoman (@HCreaby) April 25, 2016
Eamon Fitzmaurice should apologise for this comment. Nobody got "raped" yesterday. It's just a game. #gaa: https://t.co/WFZrMkR9cg
— An Spailpín Fánach (@anspailpin) April 25, 2016
As pointed out by journalist Denis Hurley, there is the argument of Fitzmaurice using the word with an alternative meaning in mind.
3. The act of pillaging or plundering: the rape of the city by the invaders.
4. Abusive or improper treatment; spoiling or abuse: the rape of the land by polluters.
@pearsecorcoran He metaphorically meant numbers 3 and 4 here rather than number 1 https://t.co/lzlCTScyK1
— Denis Hurley (@Denis_Hurley) April 25, 2016
Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
