Fergal Lynch: Online trolls are a scourge we need to eradicate from the GAA

Here we go again, having to pen another piece about the disgusting, cowardly, vitriolic online abuse by faceless keyboard warriors that always appears to rear its ugly head within seconds of when Meath lose a game.

I've tried to refrain from commenting on those fools for fear of giving them the attention and oxygen they crave and thrive upon. Instead the aim is to ignore them and hope they go away, like nuisances tend to when they are ignored.

However, the stream of abuse aimed at the Meath management and players following the Leinster SFC semi-final loss to Dublin in Croke Park last week once again stepped over the line and it cannot, should not, be disregarded as harmless, nonchalant, throwaway opinions.

Opinions are like backsides, everyone has one. We are all entitled to one and whether or not we agree doesn't make anyone's opinion any less valid - that is the joy of sport.

However, when those opinions slip into personal attacks and demeaning character assassinations of any person, let alone young men and women who volunteer huge amounts of their time and resources to represent their county, then they become assault and assault must be punishable by law.

I'm not going down the line of repeating any of the specific online abuse I witnessed last week, or indeed any week, because that is just what those trolls want.

Instead we should be calling out these idiots.

I've had many interactions with people online following Meath games and the majority, the vast majority, are sensible, cohesive, construction discussions with people who have a genuine passion for Meath and only want the best.

Often our opinions don't match, but that is the joy of sport - the 70 minutes between pre-match and post-match are the fuel for discussion and everyone sees something different, that is why we love sitting around a pint or a cup of tea having a moan or a cheer - the joy of sport.

I'm pointing the finger directly at the people who hide behind egg-shaped profile pics or a photo of Eric Cantona or Steven Gerrard, I'm pointing the finger at the tweeter whose handle is a concoction of numbers and letters and who won't stand behind their comments.

When we (journalists) criticise we put our name to every word we write, we are contactable and everyone has the right to reply. We base our critique on facts and always aim to be constructive and informative rather than destructive and abusive.

Often our readers don't agree with us and that's fine, but when that difference of opinion becomes abusive or the unwillingness of the keyboard warriors to accept someone else's view crosses the line it has gone too far.

Again, and without getting into specifics, one persistent line of negativity last week was aimed at the decision of Meath management to include Shane McEntee on the matchday panel of 26 for the game against Dublin.

It appears that those who don't like or agree with Meath manager Andy McEntee love to use his son as a stick to beat him with, regardless of what their opinion is of Shane as a player.

Some people argued why should Shane walk straight back onto the Meath panel after being away for a couple of months and some suggested he only got back on the squad because he's the manager's son!

Lets get something straight. Shane McEntee didn't go off to the Caribbean or Ibiza for two months to sun himself, he was deployed overseas in war-torn Mali as part of his job with the Irish Army.

He knew he would be getting a leave of absence after two months to come home for a couple of weeks in May and he worked hard to maintain his fitness, he stayed in touch with the Meath panel and worked on all the video analysis during his time WORKING in Mali.

When he returned, instead of sitting back, relaxing and spending his hard earned two-week break from his extremely dangerous job relaxing with his family and girlfriend Shane spent four nights a week training with the Meath team to give his best for the supporters if he was called upon.

I'm sure it never even crossed Shane's mind to not commit to helping Meath, it didn't bother him that he was going to spend his leave working his butt off for the Meath cause - he cares about Meath football.

Whether people agree or not, and this is where opinions can differ, it's my view that Shane is one of Meath's best, most committed and focused players, and if he hadn't been gone abroad since after the Offaly game in the league he would have started every game since and undoubtedly would have been one of the team's top performers.

After an embarrassing opening half performance from Meath against Dublin last week Shane was one of the substitutes Meath management turned to to bring some passion, some aggression and some heart to a dreadful, limp display, and he certainly contributed to an improved second-half display.

Shane will not be available for Meath's next game as he will be back in Mali continuing his work there, but he showed enough concern and passion for Meath football that he used ALL of his leave to try to contribute in some way and he should be applauded for that - not abused.

Some players on the Meath panel might have felt aggrieved that Shane took a spot on the matchday 26 for the game against Dublin, but that is up to them to put their hand up and say 'I deserved that place'.

There hasn't been one dissenting voice heard from the Meath camp about Shane's inclusion, so why should the trolls on the outside who know little or nothing about the inner-workings of an inter-county panel feel entitled to get abuse.

Pipe down trolls, get behind your team when they need you most and be constructive rather than destructive.