Read More:

So it was all the more surprising that the panel took a very circumspect line when discussing one particular incident from yesterday’s All-Ireland SFC final, won by Dublin.

Dublin’s Philly McMahon was involved in an incident with Kerry substitute Kieran Donaghy in the second-half, with many viewers believing he gouged the eye of the Kerry player.

Kerry’s Tomás Ó Sé appeared to think the show wasn’t the time to be discussing the incident.

“There was a lot of talk about it on social media,” he said after the clip was played.

“On a night like this, you don't want to be highlighting stuff like this. I personally think it's wrong to be highlighting it on a night like this.”

Dublin’s Ciarán Whelan was equally cautious, suggesting the camera angles might be giving a wrong impression of what actually happened.

“They can look different from angles,” he said. “Okay, from Philly's perspective, his hand is probably in somewhere where it shouldn't be.

“Philly plays the game on the edge. He's had a phenomenal year for Dublin in terms of his football.”

Their remarks did not go down well with many viewers, who felt the panel were giving McMahon the benefit of the doubt in a way that they didn't with other players during the season.

Reluctance to man up and discuss gouging incident highlights ongoing issue and problem on #SundayGame of clearly compromised pundits. #gaa

— Flor O'Donoghue (@FToD) September 20, 2015

@jacquihurley Not understandable. Analysis is not cheerleading. Nothing spared on Tyrone earlier in the year. Give a bad thing a bad name.

— Paul O'Brien (@WestCorkPaul) September 20, 2015

There's the message hav a good game & great season,play on "the edge"& do whatever the f*** you like #SundayGameLogic pic.twitter.com/aDgkDaijpn

— UnOfficialGaa (@UnOfficialGaa) September 20, 2015