WATCH: Luke Fitzgerald and Paul Kimmage face off on Dublin 'cheating' and doping in sport

Dublin, doping and cynicism were all up for discussion on the latest episode of The Left Wing, as Luke Fitzgerald and Paul Kimmage locked horns on a blockbuster instalment of Independent.ie's rugby podcast.

[@SavoPaddy]

I agree with Kimmage's argument, his manner let's him down a little bit unfortunately but he is human and it is passion. He is old school and I think his heart is in the right place. I don't think either come off badly here, they both genuinely care about sport and its meaning beyond winning.

[@switch1237]

Paul Kimmage is a complicated and brilliant man.

[@stephendaedalus6192]

hahahaha no.

[@heyhey5712]

kimmage sounds like Joe Pesci in Goodfellas

[@shane-irish]

So you think im funny i amuse you im a clown

[@michaeldonnelly9249]

Paul Kimmage now knows better than to attempt to play chess with a pigeon

[@josephryan881]

Kimmage is a F'ing legend. Put that clown in his box.

[@philiproe3471]

Kimmage called for dublin players to get their medals taken away for pulling down the mayo players in the last play of a final....10 seconds before that Lee Keegan throws a GPS at the free taker...but sure thats grand🤣. Kimmage is a hypocrite.

[@johngoold2793]

If you ask me luke fitzgerald is the bully here he called the guy a bully et etc . and instead of explaining why he feels like that he brings up kimmages past with cheating which is basically more bullying and when the man tries to defend himself fitzgerald tries to make out that he is being aggressive instead of dealing the the topic ,, . Its annoying the way fitzgerald is playing the your attacking me role rather than dealing with the point .

[@Decco10000]

Great show to be honest, Kimmage challenging for sure. FitzG similar but sweeter deliver and seemed to have support [or bias] of moderator "on his side". Personally, I'd prefer deal with a man who is honest and willing to tackle issues head-on even if that directness [or honesty] was abrasive. Certainly, [I think] Kimmage comes out in bad light in these excerpts. BUT personally I cannot find fault with anything he contends. The "professional" athlete's view that breaking the rules is fine and dandy as long as you take what the ref dishes out is not my idea of being a proper sportsman/manly/or good sportsmanship etc - this win at all costs [regardless of breaking the rules] mantra is a huge turn off. It's cheating - plain & simple! Professional sportsmen [aka businessmen] seem to be deluding themselves in their pursuit of glory and ultimately the business's worship of the money God?

[@stephengallagher2209]

Nobody asked you, though.

[@YA-gr5xe]

Luke Fitzgerald talks about wanting to have a debate, but continuously makes it personal. Pity, but it's a common enough tactic I guess... I think Kimmage has a right to be annoyed at being called a bully and other insults. When asked to back it up, Luke mentions him bringing in a lot of information......that makes someone a bully these days?? Jesus, we're gone very soft if so. As for having a finger pointed in his face for half the show, well he could just re-watch the video to find out that's not true.

[@royroyston8480]

Kimmage is a bully. Failed sportsman with a massive chip on his shoulder.

[@GOATAli]

Paul Kimmage is obsessed with cheating........he takes the good out of everything. No issue with anyone questioning sport and achievement, but this lad takes it a heap of steps too far...Not everyone cheats, Paul!

[@cncit]

You obviously never road a bike race in the 90's like I did then 😳

[@WELLBRAN]

In cycling they do...as you cant ride without it

[@gerrycantwell8304]

Paul Kimmage deserves more respect than he was given in this interview. When you (Luke) have as much life experience as Paul, hopefully you will have the wisdom to do a proper interview. Communication is also about listening , a skill you appear to lack. I was around Paul and Ray back in 1978 when I raced against Ray near every weekend. Both these brothers were passionate about the great sport of cycling.......Incidentally, I was racing for Ennel Wheelers , a Mullingar club at the time. Ray might remember me as we had some good races.

[@stephengallagher2209]

Yeah? Did you go on the sauce and all?

[@pauldoyle1864]

If Kimmage comes after you, throw your hands up and beg the court for mercy because this man is relentlessly, long may he continue exposing these drug cheats

[@bradford_shaun_murray]

Summary: 3:10 ! 3:20 👀 8:02 🎬

[@tpurr]

You're having bad day at the office when Luke Fitzgerald can verbally rinse you that badly

[@johnnyk6460]

I think Luke Fitzgerald probably got word off Brian O'Driscoll regarding what a bully Kimmage really is. Kimmage was due to write O'Driscoll's biography but pulled out citing some dumb reason of O'Driscoll giving an interview to someone else whilst Kimmage was preparing to write the book. Kimmage is an ar**hole and an utter drama-queen. His subsequent falling-out with David Walsh and then Munster rugby bear this out. He also tried bullying Jamie Heaslip and got nowhere with that. He's has a bitter, bitter personality and it's good to see Fitzgerald call this out!!!

[@eachwaythief6132]

If Kimmage had been a bit more calmer he would have won the argument. Slamming the rule book on the table and the raised voice supported Fitzgeralds view that he is a bully. However, I think he was being passionate rather than bullying, subtle difference. When it comes to sports journalism, Fitzgerald is a flyweight whereas Kimmage is a heavyweight. We owe Kimmage a lot of respect for his journalistic bravery.

[@lasrachtech.1341]

EACHWAY THIEF spot on

[@stephengallagher2209]

Fitzy isn't a hack journo, thoigh, he is a retired rugby player, podcaster and analyst... who writes the odd piece. Kimmage is a failed Dunphy without the minimal charm.

[@circlemagazine]

Fritz playing to the gallery and Paul is too smart for this dohlight

[@WELLBRAN]

Kimmage was talking and writing about doping and. Cheating when these 2 were in nappies

[@stephengallagher2209]

Kimmage was doping about doping too.

[@nickybutt9733]

Lukey Fitz had Kimmage on toast here.

[@cncit]

I back Paul Kimmage ..the other guy is totally deluded and a cheeky get to aim insults at his elders. He has a complete lack of respect for Paul Kimmage an ex pro and journalist twice his age andwith many times his knowledge and experience.

[@sparkyhughes131]

Fitzgerald is embarrassing

[@shaneshankly4518]

Paul kimmage has to be listened to

[@MegaAslan10]

Paul Kimmage isnt easily pushed around. THank fuck there are people like him around, Armstrong tried bullying kimmage. Didnt fucking work

[@sparkyhughes131]

I like how kimmage shook his hand at the end. Fitzgerald you fool

[@oisinquinn9469]

Luke is unbearable.

[@number6Mclovin]

Luke Fitz comes across very bad here.

[@11ZFELIX]

Cheating is cynically breaking the rules. Rugby players are in fear due to their worries on their cheating

[@MrDOB1000]

If you follow that argument then the best rugby players and best 7s in the world are cheats.

[@Volgogradskiy]

Paul Kimmage is a hero. I wish there were more like him

[@simoncbr900rr]

The problem with Kimmage is he thinks doping stopped him being a champion.....and as Sean Kelly said he cannot accept he wasn't good enough wether there was doping or not

[@fintandoherty7429]

You should read rough ride. He is under no illusions that he was never going to be a champion cyclist, doping or not.

[@Michael-hk6dj]

Kimmage putting Fitzgerald in his little D4 box with ease.

[@stephengallagher2209]

Really? Because Kimmage stood out as uneducated, aggressive, and unintelligent... he was put back in his lower orders box of battered sausages, fried battery chickn,, chips and MSG curry sauce. Kimmage loves the sauce, so he does.

[@declanmurphy6427]

Paul 1 - Luke 0

[@JonathanAnon]

Luke Fitzgerald is being childish and disingenuous. Kimmage doped for a very short period of time to see what it was like, and didn't win anything. He then chose to stop even though everybody else was still doing it. So to keep saying "well you admitted you cheated" is unfair, but is the mantra that Fitzgerald hides behind rather than addressing the questions that Kimmage has about rugby. It's easier to just discredit your opponent than give straight answers to their questions.

[@Lorcan666]

Yeah look people make mistakes but kimmage is very aggressive in his argument style he does shout people down. Think two them handled this very poorly

[@stephengallagher2209]

Aww, he doped to see what it was like. Bless. Well that's ok, then. Good thing he wasn't curious about murder.

[@Tianton1]

What about throwing a GPS at the kicker..

[@padraig853]

4:49 'Theyre doing it within the rules' lolz.....

[@paulbrown1241]

Kimmage loses his argument in his delivery... You lose your argument when you get emotional.

[@Shaftsus]

Yeah he is an aggressive bastard, but maybe that's what it took to finally spill the beans on professional cycling. Don't have to like the guy but you can respect him...

[@dellerbeller]

He didn't spill any beans, it was already well known before his book

[@rossmorebaz]

when it becomes personal then its not about the sport anymore..

[@Lorcan666]

The two of them need to calm the hell down to be honest

[@alcoyne3333333333333]

Luke taking shit still to this day !

[@kwacker45]

He is so right it's cheating

[@mikemyers8064]

Good man Paul👍🏻

[@tomstuppence605]

Nearly got to half way through the video before I had to switch off. There's something very tiring about listening to people having a debate that can't keep their emotions in check

[@greghenderson6011]

He is shredding...

[@DJ-mb4gg]

There would be a lot more merit to Kimmages argument if this so called wrestling behaviour never occurs in GAA, fact is this conduct happens every week and Dublin like previous All Ireland overcome and partake in these actions to try and win games, thats the sport.

[@tomthumb3500]

Your talking through your hole.

[@dellerbeller]

"YES OR NO, A BULLY?" ... Yes..

[@bradford_shaun_murray]

Summary: 3:10 ! 3:20 👀 8:02 🎬

[@colmancooney9213]

Ffs, a refs job is to protect the players... wake the fuk up everyone

[@tomqwerryan2127]

There's no doubt kimmage has done some great work..but he just needs to let it go. His work gets the respect it deserves.

[@sparkyhughes131]

Fitzgerald is so cringey in this that I thought it was scripted between the 2 of them to get listeners at the time .

[@stephengallagher2209]

Is the comments section just embittered Mayo fans, or just a bit thick, or both. Fitzy nailed him.

[@andrewsomerville1770]

This guy Luke interrupts Paul the whole time. Can’t watch the rest of it. He’s painful.

[@IrishGary1]

Kimmage is so utterly full of bitterness...must be hard to live like that

[@liamkearney2718]

Amen!!😂🤣☘️

[@fergusmccarthy7736]

Jesus. 6 years later. Never heard it before. Luke was a disgrace. Shock jock shite.

[@johnoc2585]

Completely agree with Luke. Huge difference between foul play within a game and cheating. There is no doubt that Kimmage is a bitter man. Consistently making unfounded claims about teams and individuals is a clear sign of this. I think his behaviour is a clear demonstration of a man attempting to absolve his own personal issues that exist from his playing days.

[@shane-irish]

So this means every sports person is on dope

[@finbarmcdonagh4902]

Paul Kimmage is dead right Dublin cheated Mayo out of that final so it’s not 5 in a row

[@mackem83]

The blonde guy is out of his depth

[@JohnSmith-sw6uv]

Fitzgerald is torture! Failed rugby player.

[@royroyston8480]

And what's Kimmage? A failed cyclist. A biter, whinging old man with a massive chip on his shoulder. He's unbearable.

[@JohnSmith-sw6uv]

@@royroyston8480 rather be that then a jumped up posh boy!

[@royroyston8480]

@@JohnSmith-sw6uv Oh so it's about class? How predictable. Your chip is probably just as big as Kimmage's.

[@JohnSmith-sw6uv]

@@royroyston8480 hate posh boys

[@cncit]

@@royroyston8480 The truth hurts and is often unbearable..but it is the truth and not the half assed crap the other guy was coming out with.

[@paulbrown2942]

Bla Bla Bla Paul.. You should calm down because you lose the argument with your high pitched raving...Slamming papers down bla bla bla...

[@joelyons886]

Paul Kimmage as much chance of winning an argument as Mayo winning an all Ireland

[@stephenashe2160]

How am I a bully, slams pages on the table lmao.

[@darrenayres3146]

My god what a clown. Kimmage is a legend, way too intelligent for him.

[@tuforu4]

all trying to make money when their careers are over.

[@ronanconnellan1189]

Paul kimmage is 100 percent wrong

[@cncit]

Give over..grow a pair and wise up.

[@patrickdaly1283]

Luke Fitzgerald decent on the pitch fucking champion off it someone finally shut kimmage up fair play

[@Dessienewshoes]

Luke is right

[@st3720]

poor kimmage what a bitter unhappy little old man

[@avrilrichardson972]

I'd rather have one Kimmage than ten Fitzgeralds.

[@cncit]

Not quite..he's a fucking hero surrounded by snotty little know it alls with no morals.

[@enoughalready8088]

Luke you’re an airhead! God love you, it’s like someone gave you that viewpoint that Paul is a bully and you’ve nothing else to run with. This is another example of men being branded aggressive purely for being men. Paul kimmage is a hero, they’re all afraid of him. They’re terrified of what he’ll unearth so they brand him a bully. He’s a bigger set of balls than them all put together

[@jackdanielss]

Fitzgerald is embarrassing