RTE pundit Colm O'Rourke didn't get a great reception from Tyrone fans in Croke Park last Sunday.

In his Sunday Independent column today, the Meath legend says his criticism of the Red Hands in the lead-up to their All-Ireland SFC semi-final defeat by Kerry "meant abuse, insult, and the threat of physical confrontation from Tyrone supporters before, during and after the game."

O'Rourke also hit back strongly at GAA president Aogán ó Fearghail's criticism of the punditry on The Sunday Game.

"When Aogán ó Fearghail branded The Sunday Game as 'tiresome' he should have cut his losses at that," he wrote.

"Maybe it is, and that is his subjective assessment. The show creates debate, arouses some controversy and deals with issues without fear or favour. Sometimes right, sometimes wrong. Viewers are not switching off, over three-quarters of a million were watching last Sunday, which is a huge figure. If that were transferred pro rata to Britain, it would be about ten million; the BBC would kill for a programme like that.

"The GAA president then railed against its consistent negativity. I did not realise that part of my role was to be a propaganda officer for the GAA. When games are bad, like most have been this summer, I will say they were bad. When we have a good match, like Kerry and Tyrone, then I will be first to recognise that also. What does the president want? Poodles to glorify the great organisation? Most people will recognise the silliness of his comments in this regard.

"However, if those musings could be dismissed as playing to the gallery then his comments about Tyrone, the press and the upcoming negotiations between the GAA and RTé need to be seriously challenged. He took exception to my comment about controversy following Tyrone around this year like a bad smell. This term was used in the context of various issues arising in their minor, under 21 and senior teams. ó Fearghail has decided, like Tyrone, to avoid the issues and shoot the messenger over a turn of phrase.

"What about a comment on the disgraceful scenes in the Monaghan-Tyrone game, the diving, feigning injury, sledging or interference from the sideline? The culprit is The Sunday Game for highlighting it.

"He also feels that Ulster teams get too much bad press and can understand how Tyrone are aggrieved. He is quoted as saying, "Now they have started to do well (Ulster teams ), then there's a little bit of edge to some commentary". He also made reference to the "southern media", where some of the criticism comes from. What a stupid insulting thing to say which only reinforces the bunker mentality displayed by Tyrone. If the president is saying it, it must be true.

"For a president of the GAA to use a term like the "southern media" indicates a serious lack of sense, common or otherwise. It is a signal insult to all the professional journalists who work in the media, who love the GAA and who comment on it without caring what province a county is from. Does the president really think that if any other county carried on like Tyrone that they would be treated any differently in the press or on The Sunday Game?

"If the answer is yes, that's even more worrying. I have no doubt that if Dublin, Mayo or Kerry involved themselves in the type of conduct which both Monaghan and Tyrone were at, the reaction would be the same."
 

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