Kildare journalist hits back at Glenn Ryan's 'hurtful' claim of inaccurate article

The Sports Editor of the Leinster Leader in Kildare has responded to criticism of an article by Kildare GAA football boss Glenn Ryan following his team's defeat to Armagh in Netwatch Cullen Park, Carlow on Sunday. 

There was already mounting pressure on the management team after two defeats in the League, when county board chairman Mick Gorman publicly criticised the squad last week.

Gorman said: “I spoke to the management for a long time today about the situation and the necessity that performances and results have to greatly improve. We are fully aware that results are not good enough, not good enough for the county, and the players and the management are all fully aware of the situation.”

On Sunday, Glenn Ryan claimed the comments from Gorman had not been properly reported and "did not reflect" what had been said. As the writer of the article, Tommy Callaghan took issue and asked Ryan if he wanted to hear the tape. The tense exchange has since gone viral and you can read it below.

In his column in today's Leinster Leader, Sports Editor Tommy Callaghan wrote: 

It was a very disappointed Kildare manager who spoke to the print media following Sunday's display against the Kieran McGeeney managed Armagh side.

Asked if he felt what was reported from the previous week's Kildare Co. Board meeting when chairman Mick Gorman was highly critical of the results to that point, the manager replied “no” adding that his (Mick Gorman) comments “had not been properly reported.”

As this reporter was the one who was at the county board meeting and the one that reported on it, a verbal spat between yours truly and the manager ensued which, to say the least was somewhat unpleasant and unnecessary.

However when one's integrity is brought into question it cannot, and should not be allowed to go unchallenged.

And it wasn't.

At that particular meeting of the County Board, it may have been unusual for the chairman to, not only allow some discussion on the performances of the county side, but it was he who actually instigated the discussion.

Mr Gorman informed delegates at that February meeting that not only was he disappointed with the start that had seen Kildare (up to that point) lose their two opening games but that the “displays were not acceptable and results must improve.”
Comments he repeated more than once.

Mr Gorman informed delegates that he had had a long conversation with the manager that very day and said he left his feelings and disappointments known to the manager while acknowledging the disappointment also felt by the team management and the players.

Simple.

Straight forward.

And duly reported fairly and accurately by this reporter.

We'll leave it at that.

But for the record just to say that the report of the meeting was “not properly reported” on is absolutely totally inaccurate, totally untrue and to be honest very, very hurtful.

We'll move on.

Here is the full transcript of the exchange between Glenn Ryan and the Leinster Leader at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday:

Glenn Ryan: “I don’t think the comments [by Kildare Co Board chairman Mick Gorman] at the meeting had anything to do with anything out on the pitch.

“I don’t think they were properly reported either, but look all these things come to the fore when things aren’t going your way. I have a great relationship with Mick Gorman and with the county board and we’ll all keep working to do what we can to get the best out of these lads. Obviously, not at the moment but we’ll keep our heads down and keep working at it.”

Leinster Leader: "What part of comments were not properly reported?"

Ryan: “I was only told that, I wouldn’t bother reading them, but I was told that by people who were at the meeting that the report didn’t reflect the nature of the meeting.

Leinster Leader: “Do you want to listen to the tape?”

Ryan: “No, I have no interest in listening to the tape.”

Leinster Leader: “I was the one who reported it. And if you want to hear the tape I can send it to you.”

Ryan: “I don’t want to listen to it.”

Leinster Leader: “You can’t say that it wasn’t properly reported.”

Ryan: “I can give an opinion from what somebody else told me that was at it.”

Leinster Leader: “So it’s not your opinion, it’s somebody else’s opinion.”

Ryan: “It’s my opinion based on somebody who was at the meeting. I know you a long time, you can stand here in front of all of these and profess what you want to profess – it’s probably not the time ...”

Leinster Leader: “I agree with you.”

Ryan: “It’s probably not the time for you, who I would know for a long time, to be trying to put that out here in front of these. If you have an issue with me saying that, sure you have my number, you ring it loads of times, there’s no problem.”

Leinster Leader: “I haven’t got an issue. You have the issue.”

Ryan: “I’m only answering the question.”

Leinster Leader: “You’re answering a question on hearsay.”

Ryan: “I’m only answering a question.”

Leinster Leader: “If you say it wasn’t properly reported, and I reported it, that’s coming back to me.”

Ryan: “I was told it wasn’t properly reported.”

Leinster Leader: “I can send you the tape.”

Ryan: “I know you a long time and it’s a pity, when we’re at our lowest, you don’t get the support of people that you know a long time. And that’s disappointing.”