Pat Spillane tears into Jonny Sexton's "Gobbledygook" retirement post

Pat Spillane has torn into Jonny Sexton's retirement post by labelling it as "Gobbledygook."

Ireland rugby captain Sexton hung up his boots last month after Ireland's World Cup quarter-final exit loss to New Zealand, brining an end to the career of one of the country's greatest ever sporting careers.

After a couple of weeks of reflection, Sexton took to Instagram to reflect on his career and thanked fans, players and his family for their support over the past decade and a half.

Concluding his post, Sexton wrote: "4 years ago we sat down as a squad and spoke about what we wanted to achieve. Our main motivation and objective was to inspire the nation. I think we achieved that. We lost, but we won."

The phrase "we lost, but we won" has been analysed in recent weeks with some feeling Sexton's words were an acceptance of mediocrity given the fact that Ireland were one of the favourites to win the World Cup.

Others felt that the wording was at odds with Sexton's ultra-competitive, win at all costs mentality, a mindset that saw him lead Ireland to Grand Slam glory earlier this year.

Kerry legend Spillane certainly falls into the latter category, and in his Sunday World Column, the former Sunday Game star gave his take on Sexton's post.

After explaining how he admired Michael Jordan and Roy Keane for their relentless desire to win, Spillane wrote: "I imagine Johnny Sexton, Ireland’s greatest rugby player, was the same. When he went on the field, he had the same approach as yours truly, Michael Jordan and Roy Keane.

"Another Mr Cranky / Mr Perfection. In other words, a born winner.

"So, to say I was taken aback by his retirement statement would be the understatement of the month.

"He said that four years ago the Irish squad had sat down and spoke about what they wanted to achieve.

“Our main motivation and objective was to inspire the nation. I think we have achieved that. We lost, but we won,' said the statement.

"What? We lost, but we won?

"This was the most un-Sexton quote ever. It is pure gobbledygook which might be normal coming from some PR guru, but not from a born winner.

"Christ, can you imagine Jack O’Connor and the Kerry players telling the Kerry fans “we lost, but we won” after being beaten by Dublin in the All-Ireland final? They would have been ran out of the county if they were foolish enough to make such a statement."