Kerry legend and Sunday Game pundit Pat Spillane has said he was “shocked and amazed” by the revelations about Dublin breaching Covid-19 restrictions during an early-morning training session recently.

It resulted in a twelve-week suspension for Dubs boss Dessie Farrell following an investigation into photographs showing several members of the All-Ireland champions' squad training at the Innisfails GAA club in Balgriffin.

Cork manager Ronan McCarthy and his Down counterpart Paddy Tally were hit with similar punishment for training breaches also, while Monaghan supremo Seamus McEnaney found himself in hot water last week after footage emerged of some of his players taking part in a training session.

Inter-county training will officially get underway next Monday, April 19, with fixtures to run from May 8/9 to the end of August.

Spillane admitted his surprise at Dublin breaking lockdown rules, when speaking on the RTÉ GAA podcast.

“When I heard the Dubs were breaking the rules, I was stunned. I was shocked, I was amazed,” he said.

“With the Dubs, everything is managed. It's all about protecting the brand. It’s all about controlling the narrative. No-one knows what is happening inside of the camp.

“It’s a bit like the brightest boy in the class suddenly being caught cheating, or you suddenly realise that the local parish priest has a wife and family in the next county.

“You look up to the Dubs as these are your role models.”

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