It's rare to see a player on the losing team handed the Man of the Match award in GAA, even rarer still when that player is on the end of a 12-point defeat.
Despite his side going down 0-19 to 0-7 at O'Moore Park in Portlaoise against Dublin on Saturday night, Carlow midfielder Sean Murphy was named Man of the Match by Sky Sports.
It was an award which many saw as being well-deserved.
Sean Murphy @Carlow_GAA is putting in some shift
— John Doyle (@johnnydoyle78) June 3, 2017
Sean Murphy Man of Match for me 👏👏👏
— Gary Walsh 🚑 (@GaryWalshLaois) June 3, 2017
Murphy scored one point from his station at midfield after a driving run in the 25th minute. It saw Carlow move within three points of Dublin.
WATCH!
What about this for a score from @Carlow_GAA's Sean Murphy vs @DubGAAOfficial! #LeinsterGAA pic.twitter.com/IIZirdx38n— eirSport (@eirSport) June 3, 2017
He also put in a superb block on Dean Rock in the second half.
WATCH: Amazing block by Carlow's Sean Murphy! Live on SS5 or follow on https://t.co/DGn2ccg3ml https://t.co/y7hdbzm2ZA
— Sky Sports GAA (@SkySportsGAA) June 3, 2017
Murphy did pick up his award after the game.
@Carlow_GAA Sean Murphy receives @AIB_GAA Man of match award from Ray Lynch following tonight's @gaaleinster Q/F loss to @DubGAAOfficial pic.twitter.com/NpxUsfcBck
— Leinster GAA (@gaaleinster) June 3, 2017
However, according to Newstalk's Oisin Langan, he declined an opportunity to do a Man of the Match interview with Sky Sports.
His reason: he was too deflated by the loss to the All-Ireland champions.
Sean Murphy of @Carlow_GAA was motm but told @SkySports he was too dissapointed to be interviewed. I kind of admire him for that #gaa
— Oisin Langan (@oisinlangan) June 3, 2017
