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Andy McEntee Was Right To Tell A Reporter To Stick It

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To hell with the Chronicle, somebody in there obviously doesn't like McEntee and engineered a controversial story to stick the boot in. This is really kicking the whole Meath setup and Meath supporters while we're down and a most unwelcome distraction while the squad are trying to pick themselves up for a huge qualifier game. Obviously apart from the attack on McEntee the other objective is to sell papers, well the ironic thing is I was planning on buying the Chronical this week to have a look but they can stick it now! They've published some right tripe in the past but this is as low as they've stopped for a long time. We await the apology from the Chronicle..... Htaem (Meath) - Posts: 8657 - 26/06/2019 18:06:46 2201381 Link
To weigh-in on a fascinatingly diverse debate here; If I was in McEntee's position after that match, i'd have likely reacted the same. I put my hands up and admit that after a game like that in those circumstances I'd be best avoided for a few hours. Andy is a straight-talker and that much is very obvious by now... it sure seems like there was perhaps a certain amount of intent in the question to possibly get some kind of reaction, and even if there wasn't, the reporter maybe should have thought twice about asking that particular question. It just seems strange, in saying that McEntee seems to have a tendency (a bit like Roy Keane) to get bothered and wound up easily, and he's largely gotten away with it until now. I respect that quality in him but I also see how people dont respect it. Threatening to take someone's head off is just a phrase, he obviously didnt mean it but its still very heavy language. He also was effing and blinding to the linesman on the big screen during the game itself. I think the Chronicle was wrong to make such a massive deal out of it though; like its almost as of they're trying to sabotage the Meath team and set-up with this. As another poster said, the rest of Ireland is already pitted against us, the last thing we need is to fight amongst ourselves, or for the media to vilify the Meath team to sell a story and a few hundred extra copies... Andy was in a compromised and emotionally vulnerable position and the last thing he need was Jimmy Joe with a camera and notebook coming up asking bizarre questions about the hurlers. Im dissappointed in the whole situation, and Im shocked that Meath GAA and the Chronicle could have such a public spat over something so little. Im willing to bet McEntee knew the reporter for the last few years, and this was just an isolated incident. It isnt going to help the team this week, thats for sure. Young_gael (Meath) - Posts: 587 - 26/06/2019 18:11:12 2201383 Link
Of course it was a valid question and the journalist had every right to ask it without having to put up with a childish rant like this! Wasn't it Andy who called for all the hurleys in Meath to be burnt a few years ago? He was probably still upset at the success of the Meath hurlers the day before especially having presided over that embarrassing disaster of a display against the old enemy. Meath hurling is on the rise while Meath football is miles off the pace of the serious football counties. Who could blame the hurlers on the panel opting to play for their clubs this weekend instead of sitting on a bench watching that muck...? Wedgie (Meath) - Posts: 253 - 26/06/2019 18:21:24 2201388 Link
Replying To Wedgie: "Of course it was a valid question and the journalist had every right to ask it without having to put up with a childish rant like this! Wasn't it Andy who called for all the hurleys in Meath to be burnt a few years ago? He was probably still upset at the success of the Meath hurlers the day before especially having presided over that embarrassing disaster of a display against the old enemy. Meath hurling is on the rise while Meath football is miles off the pace of the serious football counties. Who could blame the hurlers on the panel opting to play for their clubs this weekend instead of sitting on a bench watching that muck...?" No it wasn't Andy who called for all the hurls to be burnt so perhaps get your facts right before you come on here spouting nonsense. I'd imagine Andy has no issue like most of us football heads with the hurlers winning a 3rd tier competition against a load of other weaker counties fair play to them but the bottom line is theres a time and a place for everything and straight after coming off the pitch after losing the final like that was not the time to be asking that question. The reporter knew this full well got the reaction he had hoped for and now the paper will sell a few more copies and the online edition will get a few more clicks. WELL DONE HIM!!!! Aloblack (Meath) - Posts: 265 - 26/06/2019 18:52:19 2201401 Link
Replying To Htaem: "To hell with the Chronicle, somebody in there obviously doesn't like McEntee and engineered a controversial story to stick the boot in. This is really kicking the whole Meath setup and Meath supporters while we're down and a most unwelcome distraction while the squad are trying to pick themselves up for a huge qualifier game. Obviously apart from the attack on McEntee the other objective is to sell papers, well the ironic thing is I was planning on buying the Chronical this week to have a look but they can stick it now! They've published some right tripe in the past but this is as low as they've stopped for a long time. We await the apology from the Chronicle....." Well said. Excellent post royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 26/06/2019 18:59:04 2201404 Link
Replying To Aloblack: "No it wasn't Andy who called for all the hurls to be burnt so perhaps get your facts right before you come on here spouting nonsense. I'd imagine Andy has no issue like most of us football heads with the hurlers winning a 3rd tier competition against a load of other weaker counties fair play to them but the bottom line is theres a time and a place for everything and straight after coming off the pitch after losing the final like that was not the time to be asking that question. The reporter knew this full well got the reaction he had hoped for and now the paper will sell a few more copies and the online edition will get a few more clicks. WELL DONE HIM!!!!" I'd say most of the footballing fraternity on here would welcome a third tier competition to compete in... Nobody should have to put up with being spoken to like that as they go about their normal business.... Wedgie (Meath) - Posts: 253 - 26/06/2019 19:51:29 2201427 Link
Replying To Aloblack: "No it wasn't Andy who called for all the hurls to be burnt so perhaps get your facts right before you come on here spouting nonsense. I'd imagine Andy has no issue like most of us football heads with the hurlers winning a 3rd tier competition against a load of other weaker counties fair play to them but the bottom line is theres a time and a place for everything and straight after coming off the pitch after losing the final like that was not the time to be asking that question. The reporter knew this full well got the reaction he had hoped for and now the paper will sell a few more copies and the online edition will get a few more clicks. WELL DONE HIM!!!!" Look if you are going to have a go at the guy for doing his job at least be factually accurate. He did not put that question to him 'straight after coming off the pitch'. Andy went to a press conference with all national media, this usually takes place anything up to thirty minutes after the match, to allow managers speak with their players first. Assuming this conference took place for 15;20 minutes you are looking at nearly an hour after the game finished before the first clash took place. Then it was another 15 minutes before they clashed a second time. So even if my timings are slightly off it was not straight after he came off the pitch he was asked the question. BoynesideBlue (Meath) - Posts: 130 - 26/06/2019 20:11:13 2201432 Link
Replying To Wedgie: "I'd say most of the footballing fraternity on here would welcome a third tier competition to compete in... Nobody should have to put up with being spoken to like that as they go about their normal business...." Welcome a third tier? You might have missed the league there fella where we have it tiered in to 4 - we topped the 2nd to move in to 1... dunboynelad (Meath) - Posts: 227 - 26/06/2019 20:15:25 2201434 Link
Journalist's have a right to ask whatever they want, freedom of speech and all that. Doesn't mean its morally correct though. Their job is to sell papers, so of course he is going to ask controversial questions to boost his paper. There are plenty of other journalists out there in the world who have asked people in worse-off positions worse-off questions. That's what they do! Unfortunately, although it was already said on here that Andy is an "amateur" manager he still needs to act in a "professional" manner, given his position. I'm sure at the time, he thought what he said would remain within those 4 walls. It was ultimately a knee-jerk reaction that most of us would have had. Given that this is an amateur sport, players and coaches don't exactly get trained on dealing with public relations, he's just a regular guy. So Andy is only human to react the way he did. It's just unfortunate that he happened to say it to a journalist who's job it is to sell papers, and not to someone like a postman who would have brushed it off and continued about his day job. pati (Meath) - Posts: 80 - 26/06/2019 20:19:36 2201435 Link
Replying To BoynesideBlue: "Look if you are going to have a go at the guy for doing his job at least be factually accurate. He did not put that question to him 'straight after coming off the pitch'. Andy went to a press conference with all national media, this usually takes place anything up to thirty minutes after the match, to allow managers speak with their players first. Assuming this conference took place for 15;20 minutes you are looking at nearly an hour after the game finished before the first clash took place. Then it was another 15 minutes before they clashed a second time. So even if my timings are slightly off it was not straight after he came off the pitch he was asked the question." By the way fair play to the moderators for allowing this debate run and run without interference. Well none I am aware of anyway BoynesideBlue (Meath) - Posts: 130 - 26/06/2019 20:19:44 2201436 Link
Replying To Wedgie: "I'd say most of the footballing fraternity on here would welcome a third tier competition to compete in... Nobody should have to put up with being spoken to like that as they go about their normal business...." Your 100% correct nobody should have to put up with being spoken to like that as they go about their normal business. Now hopefully the reporter apologises to Andy for doing so. and we can all move on Aloblack (Meath) - Posts: 265 - 26/06/2019 20:26:54 2201440 Link
Replying To BoynesideBlue: "Look if you are going to have a go at the guy for doing his job at least be factually accurate. He did not put that question to him 'straight after coming off the pitch'. Andy went to a press conference with all national media, this usually takes place anything up to thirty minutes after the match, to allow managers speak with their players first. Assuming this conference took place for 15;20 minutes you are looking at nearly an hour after the game finished before the first clash took place. Then it was another 15 minutes before they clashed a second time. So even if my timings are slightly off it was not straight after he came off the pitch he was asked the question." My point is its a ridiculous question to be asking so quickly after losing the final. Wait until Monday morning even and contact the County Board for the info. Look I've said since this broke that this reporter knew what he was doing asking this question when he did and he knew full well the reaction it would get and thats why he asked it. Aloblack (Meath) - Posts: 265 - 26/06/2019 20:30:02 2201441 Link
According to the Meath county board. It is the players themselves who make the decision whether to play for club or not. So perhaps the journalist should have known this? royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 26/06/2019 20:57:33 2201453 Link
1 journalist was doing his job 2 mcentee threatened violence 3 a good question was asked. Club is the heartbeat of gaa and players should be released Jackpot (Meath) - Posts: 199 - 26/06/2019 21:04:16 2201455 Link
Replying To Htaem: "To hell with the Chronicle, somebody in there obviously doesn't like McEntee and engineered a controversial story to stick the boot in. This is really kicking the whole Meath setup and Meath supporters while we're down and a most unwelcome distraction while the squad are trying to pick themselves up for a huge qualifier game. Obviously apart from the attack on McEntee the other objective is to sell papers, well the ironic thing is I was planning on buying the Chronical this week to have a look but they can stick it now! They've published some right tripe in the past but this is as low as they've stopped for a long time. We await the apology from the Chronicle....." very good post 100% right meath1977 (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 26/06/2019 21:35:42 2201471 Link
Replying To royaldunne: "No real Meath fan would disagree with you. Fair play to Andy for actually keeping his cool and not swinging for him. I have asked my local newsagents (who get in one chronicle a week ) to cancel it as I won't be buying it again until THEY issue a apology." Didn't think the chronicle was so much in demand that you had to order it, and now cancel it with newsagents. Slight exaggeration i would say. As another poster alluded to, last year after Tyrone match, anytime the camera was on him on Sunday he was snarling at linesman. Ask yourself this question , is there any other county manager aside from maybe Davy Fitzgerald who would behave this way ??? And please remember, the initial question at that time was a stupid one to ask and no problem with response to that but to come out what was a while after and say what he did is an embarrassment Analyst (Meath) - Posts: 1467 - 26/06/2019 21:37:21 2201472 Link
This issue needs to be sorted asap, longer it drags on the more it affects preparation for round four. seadog54 (Meath) - Posts: 2142 - 26/06/2019 21:37:59 2201473 Link
Replying To Ibbecek: "Very low blow by Chronicle. Displaying on front page only adds to its stupidity" agree meath1977 (Meath) - Posts: 534 - 26/06/2019 21:38:34 2201474 Link
Replying To royaldunne: "Well said. Excellent post" Of course Andy was correct in telling the guy to get stuffed etc ,as it's obvious that it was a set up question . This is the type of fire I expected Andy to bring to Meath football . However this has not transferred on to the pitch as I thought our players have been bullied in most of their matches......hopefully no apology will be forthcoming from Mac and the players pick up on this fire . Do you think a reporter would ask this question to Cody or Gavin,or Micky Harte ...I don't think so !!! noluso (Meath) - Posts: 164 - 26/06/2019 21:46:26 2201480 Link
Replying To Jackpot: "1 journalist was doing his job 2 mcentee threatened violence 3 a good question was asked. Club is the heartbeat of gaa and players should be released" 1, journalist asked a question to get a rise. 2, journalist got what he wanted 3, paper printed it without consideration and to sell more papers 4, all 3 previous points backfired spectacularly. With fans and players backin Andy completely. 5, knock on effects? Players won't do interviews with local hacks, neither will management. 6, losers? The supporters. royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 19449 - 26/06/2019 21:47:18 2201481 Link