In light of the reaction comments he made about Sligo's forfeited fixture against Galway caused, Tomás Ó Sé attempted to clarify his position on Friday morning and suggested that the county has questions to answer given the number of positive Covid cases they have recorded.
"I have no issues with what I said," the former Kerry footballer remarked to Ocean FM on Friday morning. "I suppose, the tweet looked like it was directed at Sligo but this was about the whole situation.
"I was upset and maybe it looked like I was attacking Sligo, but I do stand behind what I said because I do feel that the GAA is being sliced and diced in a lot of corners of the country for being selfish for having these lads [playing].
"I've no doubts that Sligo and Leitrim and whoever it is, that they're all trying very hard. But I am frustrated."
Sligo GAA confirmed in the early hours of Wednesday morning that a number of positive Covid-19 cases within the panel had lead to the forfeiture of this weekend's clash with Galway.
Within the temporary structure of this year's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship, the decision meant that Sligo's year was over while Galway advanced to the Connacht final without playing a game.
Taking to Twitter later that day, Tomás Ó Sé vented his frustration with the decision:
Very disappointing Sligo have pulled out of the championship. I'd love to know the exact situation that has led to this... I'm not down-playing the seriousness of this but the integrity of the competition is being questioned now... Why is it all weaker counties that seem to be in bother with this? Does it suit them?
18 July 2009; Charles Harrison, Sligo, in action against Tomas O Se, Kerry. Photo by SportsfileTwo full days after making those comments online, Ó Sé joined Ocean FM to discuss the reaction his comments had garnered in the north west.
"First of all and most importantly," he clarified, "the one thing I would be upset about is that it sounded like I wasn't sympathetic about what was happening all around the country.
"It sounded as if I didn't give a damn about anything else other than sport, and that is not the case. I'm working in a front-line job and Covid has come to the front door of our house."
Standing by what he said, however, the multiple All-Ireland winner remained adamant that there were questions about Sligo's decision that need to be answered.
"I think it is fair to question - and people will jump on me for saying this - does it suit weaker teams maybe to say, 'Jesus, this is not going to happen for us'," he suggested of the question that 'weaker' footballer counties may put to themselves in such circumstances.
"Is it an easier decision for weaker teams to say it is isn't worth it? It might sound very, very cold, but the fact that we are under such pressure to have a championship in the first place, that we're so lucky to have a championship, if fixtures can be fulfilled, they should be.
"Sligo have to ask themselves a question. The fact that they have so many [positive cases], a cluster of cases, did they take the eyes off the ball and how did it happen?
"People will say that that information shouldn't be brought out but I think for other teams to learn it should be brought out. How did this happen?"
Citing Longford's decision to forfeit their final league game against Cork as "very wrong," he addressed complaints being made that his outlook was informed by his ties to a stronger footballing county.
"I do think that the championship needed every game to happen," he stated. "The wiggle-room was there [to reschedule] based on the numbers in the province. I think Sligo should have been afforded every possibility to fulfill the fixture."
24 October 2020; Sligo manager Paul Taylor. Photo by SportsfileIn certain counties, the furore surrounding his comments was such that Leitrim GAA's County Chairman Enda Stenson told Ocean FM on Thursday that Ó Sé should vacate his role as a GAA pundit.
"Ah, look, I'm not going to be getting into what one man says above in Leitrim," he bluntly replied to the suggestion.
"I sat last night and had a chat for an hour with the Leitrim county manager Terry Hyland and we didn't raise voices, we have great respect for each other.
"People say I've no respect, I sat down two weeks ago and watched the Limerick vs Sligo game... to say that I've disrespect for weaker counties, I think there is a genuine question to be asked here."
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