Sorry Micheál and Jim, there’s only one winner

A PROBLEM for Jim Gavin is the passion of his advocates. In their determination to remind the world of his talents, they overstate the case and their arguments take on the partisan tenor of Hill 16.

There is no conspiracy against Gavin. It is no secret he is not a favourite among journalists, but ours is a constituency too easy to detect slights and often possessed of a sensitivity we criticise in players and managers.

However, even his detractors acknowledge his excellence, but this week it was difficult not to feel the astonishment of his supporters.

That Gavin was not named manager of the year was surprising, and he deserved it ahead of Micheál Donoghue. Galway’s hurling triumph was one of the romantic stories of the season, but Dublin completed their first three in a row in 94 years, and the first in Championship football since Kerry in 1986.

Gavin’s claim was strong – but Aidan O’Brien should have been recognised as the outstanding Irish manager of 2017.

He broke a world record in a global sport when Saxon Warrior became his 26th group one winner of the year, a phenomenal achievement that spoke to enduring brilliance. If ignoring Gavin was a shock, overlooking O’Brien was ridiculous.