Brendan Devenney has waded into the 'sledging' debate by claiming a minor footballer in Donegal was taunted over the death of his father by opposing players.

The former Donegal attacker says 'sledging' has become widespread in Ulster and fears for the mental health of young GAA players who are subjected to such disgusting behaviour.

"Up in Ulster, there is this perceived rest of the country versus Ulster attitude when it comes to football and how it is played. You have people down South criticising the sledging, goading and cynicism that goes on in Ulster and those inside the province don't like it. As somebody from Ulster, I have to say that what is going on and what we witnessed in Ballyboyfey in the senior game was a pile of s....," Devenney is quoted in the Irish Examiner.

"There is this harshness up North, particularly with the six counties. When I played with Donegal, we were seen as a soft touch.

"Armagh would have used those tactics of goading we saw at the weekend. Down would have done so, Tyrone too.

"I heard back from a very good source that one Donegal minor, who lost his father to cancer, was taunted about that during a game. That would turn your stomach.

"There is the mental health element here and are players able to take what is being said to them? What must that minor have been thinking after the game?"

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