Following his stunning introduction to the Premier League yesterday with a goal against Liverpool, it was no surprise that Joe Molloy and the gang prioritised Manchester United's new recruit Anthony Martial in the Sunday Paper Review for the Off The Ball show.
Martial is now the most expensive teenager in world football according to Molloy. And although Marital's strike after bypassing two defenders was widely commended, Trevor Hogan was more subdued with his praise, using some colorful words to articulate his insight.
'There was a bit of a bounce of luck there. The way the ball went in the dribble set it up for him. Martin Tyler had an absolute orgasm on air but Benteke's goal was miles better and is already the goal of the season.'
With the Rugby World Cup drawing closer, the panel switched the discussion to the array of coverage afforded to Ireland's chances this year. The Sunday Times published a 42 page supplement this weekend which prompted Molloy to mention Tom English's book No Borders Playing For Ireland. An extract was published in the Irish Independent today which got the panel talking about the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Joe Molloy referenced statements from players that said the Hotel Chief had to be taught how to make porridge. Others reported that the poor quality food provided, meant they had to live on a diet of nutella sandwiches which ultimately caused substantial weight loss.
Sinéad Kissane was a reporter in Bordeaux during that tournament and she recalled the substandard accommodation for Ireland during the discussion.
'The original plan for the hotel fell through which is why they had to resort to a place 30 minutes outside the city. We went there before the players arrived and the rooms were tiny so even that sense of claustrophobia was not the best for them.'
Today is the All-Ireland Tripple header in Camogie with the Senior, Intermediate and Junior finals taking place in Croke Park. Sinéad Kissane mentioned Cliona Foley's engaging interview in the Irish Independent with sisters Orla, Clodagh and Niamh McGrath who will line out for Galway in the senior final against Cork.
The conversation then brought forward thoughts on how to improve the image of women in sport. Trevor Hogan said,
'They shouldn't shirk from negativity. If there has been a bad performance, that should be hammered. I felt with the Camogie Association came out really badly in the coin toss controversy. When you're in a controversy, that's good it generates debate about your sport. We want women's sport to be taken to the same level as men so the bad stories are just as good as the good stuff.'
Sinéad Kissane and Joe Molloy agreed saying that it's patronising to avoid criticising female athletes when they under perform and said that if the camogie finals are poor today they deserve a poor review.
'There's a fear there that you're being sexist,' said Kissane, 'and it's just condescending to the players who work hard.'
Moving on to athletics, the panel pointed out that the Paula Radcliffe controversy got surprisingly little coverage in the Sunday Times and Sinead Kissane felt Radcliffe could have handled the situation better. Molloy also announced that Sports Journalist David Walsh is keen to arrange an in-depth interview with Radcliffe this week.
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