Footballer of the Year James O'Donoghue has dismissed claims that Kerry deliberately set out to influence referees.

Speaking to The Irish Independent at the launch of the All-Ireland series yesterday, O'Donoghue said: "Wasn't there a big campaign about respect for each other, the referee and the players?

"I think the articles written, some of them were absolutely horrendous. You might see something on the field when you are in the stand and you make something out of it in your head which isn't the case.

"The referee could want to say to you 'calm down a bit there', but then in the stand everyone thinks the player is trying to influence the referee (or) the referee's decision.

"That is not the case at all and I think it has been blown out of proportion.

"The referees probably deserve more respect than that to think a player having a word is going to influence a decision. That is not true."

Reflecting on referee Padraig Hughes' decision to award him a penalty in the drawn Munster SFC final against Cork, the Legion clubman admitted: "I know it was a contentious decision. Would I have given a penalty? I am not sure.

"There was a coming together and the referee had a decision to make. It was very 50/50.

"One team can be lucky and the other unlucky there. Either way it was always going to be a tough call."

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