Intercounty footballers and social media – it rarely ends well.
On April 1, the day after Laois had beaten Carlow in the Allianz Football League Division 4 final in Croke Park, Carlow footballer Brendan Murphy and Laois’s Robbie Pigott ended up in a social media spat.
As it turned it out it was the last game either would play for their county that year – with both opting to go to America for the summer.
In any case their feud across Twitter and Instagram made for interesting viewing.
Just when we thought we’d had enough of Twitter for this week, another controversy involving the Laois footballers has arisen.
Laois lost Gary Walsh in the run up to Saturday’s game after his ill-judged Tweet in the aftermath of the result of the Belfast Rape Trial, made Laois take the decision to leave him out of the final.
Although, this time it is one of the Carlow footballers who has taken to Twitter.
Midfielder Brendan Murphy sent a Tweet last night where he launched a stinging attack on Laois wing back Robbie Pigott.
The Portarlington defender was given the unenviable task of shackling the Rathvilly man in Dr Cullen Park last week and once again on Saturday in Croke Park.
He went off early in the first game after picking up a yellow card but Pigott was far more disciplined this time and marshaled Murphy well.
However, posting on his Instagram account, Pigott poked fun at the tussle with Murphy and it drew the ire of Murphy.
Pigott, who was playing just his second competitive game for Laois, said: “Croke Park certainly lived up to its expectations #sorrybrendan x”
He has since removed the ‘#sorrybrendan’ bit but not before the Carlow midfielder took a screenshot of it and posted it onto his Twitter account.
He said: “This man mauled me for 2 solid games, was taken off the first day because he got a yellow for persistent fouling, didn’t want to play football, was on the winning team, yet he feels the need to put this on social media, disrespectful to say the least.”
This man mauled me for 2 solid games, was taken off the first day because he got a yellow for persistent fouling, didn’t want to play football, was on the winning team, yet he feels the need to put this on social media, disrespectful to say the least pic.twitter.com/Ku2WrgMrE8
— Brendan Murphy (@BrendanMurphy17) April 1, 2018
And then the Rathvilly Twitter account rowed in behind their man.
We love this super score by our own @BrendanMurphy17
Weaker foot, being mauled all day… no bother to ya! #ThisLittlePiggotWentToCroker#ThisLittlePiggotGotSkint pic.twitter.com/tNHpi8nIoG
— Rathvilly GAA Club (@RathvillyGAA) April 1, 2018
However, the reaction to Murphy’s Tweet has been mixed to say the least.
Some people have come out in support of him but the majority have accused him of sour grapes and not being able to take a harmless bit of banter.
One thing is for sure, if Laois and Carlow clash again this year, it will be tasty.
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