Meath Forum

Andy McEntee Was Right To Tell A Reporter To Stick It

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Replying To BoynesideBlue:  "Andy was 100% wrong to threaten physical violence.
Under no circumstances can that be condoned.
Perhaps the timing of the initial question could have been better but I will say one thing I know the reporter personally and he'd be the last one to try and deliberately stir it, if he's guilty of anything it would be poor timing.
If he really wanted to cause a problem he could have asked that question in the general press conference and hoped for a reaction there, instead he diplomatically posed it privately.
It brings into question Andys ability to cope and remain calm under pressure.
As for the county boards response that was ridiculous in the extreme it didn't even address the main point.
However an apology is due and everyone should, and I'd imagine will, move on once that happens."
Without having witnessed what happened I'd tend to agree with this.
Seems like a legitimate question from the guy. If the paper run previews of championship games then it would be an important fact for him and probably for club hurlers buying the paper.
Timing of it was naive though and I'd sooner have seen it making less of a splash.
Having said that last year finished with photos of Andy being restrained from going for a referee in navan. To follow that with threatening violence on reporters doing their jobs was not a clever idea either. Cool heads are important in his job.

Greenfield (Meath) - Posts: 413 - 26/06/2019 13:29:57    2201236

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Replying To 49erroyal:  "I have to say, a local reporter running after Andy McEntee after a press conference had ended into the corridors of Croke Park and asking a question to wind him up after a 16-point Leinster final loss is not on in my opinion. I buy the Chronicle every week and will continue to do so but that is poor.
And then to get the response that everyone would expect, by winding him up and then for him to lose his cool - they print it on the front page and try to make themselves look the victim. Bad form in my opinion, I know some will disagree with me but turning on our own county manager is not what Meath people want to see."
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.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 17035 - 26/06/2019 13:38:26    2201243

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Replying To meath1977:  "dead right they should have sorted it out with Andy instead of running public."
Perhaps they did and got nowhere

BoynesideBlue (Meath) - Posts: 130 - 26/06/2019 13:39:27    2201244

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Replying To dunboynelad:  "As has been said, to ask that at any time when the whole county knows the answer, comes across as poor at best. There was nothing genuine about the question. To do it after a Leinster final of that manner is shameful. To then bring this whole thing in to the open while we try to dust ourselves off for the biggest game in years is simply unforgivable.

This will now be a national story and the last thing we need, if they were sincere in wanting an apology, do it behind closed doors, not in national media. And if you don't get an apology so what, no one is obliged to put up with that sort of crap and for them to act on this the way they have shows arrogance and delusion beyond belief.

With loyalty comes choosing sides, with Meath it has always been us v the rest. I wasn't embarrassed about the result on Sunday but to have our supposed own sell us out like this to the rest I was, and it won't be forgotten."
Well said. That's why I cancelled my chronicle subscription. Absolutely disgraceful and beneath most Meath people to ask that question, just to get a reaction.

royaldunne (Meath) - Posts: 17035 - 26/06/2019 13:43:48    2201248

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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."
So RD Violence is the answer.
That'd be clever.
No point debating the matter any further.

BoynesideBlue (Meath) - Posts: 130 - 26/06/2019 14:11:06    2201258

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Replying To Aloblack:  "See i don't believe this reporter was naive. Imo he knew exactly what he was doing asking a question like that at a time like that. This reporter is around a long time and he knows andy well. Was trying to push his buttons and it worked. Andy was well within his rights to tell him to F off. Threatening violence however he should not have done."
I still don't get how it wasn't correct for him to ask.

The GAA is now at a stage (not just in Meath) where ONE individual, usually the county football manager, is deciding whether and when players should play games.

If we now can't even ask that all powerful being for clarification a few days out from games then we really are in a worrying place.

Greenfield (Meath) - Posts: 413 - 26/06/2019 14:19:16    2201263

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This is pathetic from the Meath Chronicle. To throw a cheap shot of a question like that at Andy is not on, almost kicking him while he's obviously down. I'm sure this fiasco will now prolong the disappointment of Sunday in the camp for another day or two.

NuttyMeathMan (Meath) - Posts: 35 - 26/06/2019 14:26:15    2201265

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Replying To BoynesideBlue:  "So RD Violence is the answer.
That'd be clever.
No point debating the matter any further."
Violence?
Was there any?
As for the threat, was it credible or an out of context metaphor?

Your sensationalism of this violence is bizzare

Jinxie (Meath) - Posts: 6158 - 26/06/2019 15:01:29    2201282

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Very low blow by Chronicle.

Displaying on front page only adds to its stupidity

Ibbecek (Meath) - Posts: 196 - 26/06/2019 15:16:32    2201293

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The Chronicle has nothing to apologise for, genuine and relevant question asked quietly, after all the hurling Championship referred to commences this weekend and the reporter was probably already tasked with writing a preview of it. He was given an abrupt and uninformative answer. The reporter then continued his other duties by interviewing two named players who were accommodating to him. It is at this point according to reports that the county's current football manager threatened him. If two players were interviewed in the meantime then the manager had ample time to cool down, violence or the threat of it is never acceptable.

MillerX (Meath) - Posts: 742 - 26/06/2019 15:44:50    2201308

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Replying To Greenfield:  "I still don't get how it wasn't correct for him to ask.

The GAA is now at a stage (not just in Meath) where ONE individual, usually the county football manager, is deciding whether and when players should play games.

If we now can't even ask that all powerful being for clarification a few days out from games then we really are in a worrying place."
The timing of the question is the issue in my book. A few minutes after a devastating defeat like that. Have a bit of cop on and leave it till the next day even. Unless you had an ulterior motive in asking the question. To get a reaction. And then to run the story on the front page. Similar to the English media the way they go after their own soccer team at world cups

Aloblack (Meath) - Posts: 265 - 26/06/2019 15:49:21    2201316

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if i was the reporter i would have been asking why he got his tactics so wrong never mind hurling, probably a stupid question which deserved a stupid answer.

thelutch (Meath) - Posts: 856 - 26/06/2019 15:57:13    2201319

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Replying To MillerX:  "The Chronicle has nothing to apologise for, genuine and relevant question asked quietly, after all the hurling Championship referred to commences this weekend and the reporter was probably already tasked with writing a preview of it. He was given an abrupt and uninformative answer. The reporter then continued his other duties by interviewing two named players who were accommodating to him. It is at this point according to reports that the county's current football manager threatened him. If two players were interviewed in the meantime then the manager had ample time to cool down, violence or the threat of it is never acceptable."
Threats of violence are never acceptable. Andy should apologise. The reporter knew he was stirring the pot asking the question when he did and Andy was right to tell him to F off. Wait till Monday morning and ask Andy or ask the county board. Knew exactly what he was doing.

Aloblack (Meath) - Posts: 265 - 26/06/2019 15:57:37    2201321

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Replying To Greenfield:  "I still don't get how it wasn't correct for him to ask.

The GAA is now at a stage (not just in Meath) where ONE individual, usually the county football manager, is deciding whether and when players should play games.

If we now can't even ask that all powerful being for clarification a few days out from games then we really are in a worrying place."
No doubt his timing was bad. However the Club hurling championship is starting this weekend. In theory all players should be available to play in it but clearly any Meath football county player who plays hurling will not be allowed. I think that's only right and I don't think any would want to play. But is it right that the county manager can refuse clubs their players in the most important club competition. Perhaps the reporter was just highlighting that fact by asking the question. Perhaps he intended to write an article about players missing from their hurling teams this weekend and how hurling clubs are badly treated-club v county etc. Andy should have just said " no" and moved on. His reaction was completely over the top and any manager who represents Meath should have respect for any person just doing their job. For people to come on here and say Andy was right to abuse him is a new low for this forum.

Poormouth (Meath) - Posts: 193 - 26/06/2019 16:06:22    2201327

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Hurling heads here think it was a valid question.
We put up with too much of this nonsense .The football manager has enough problems getting meath to a stage of competing with the better resourced big football counties, Asking him about hurling when Meath don't even play in the real hurling championship after a leinster final setback is incredible. Just get on with your hurling if thats what you want. Nothing to do with the rest of us.

Ashrules (Dublin) - Posts: 342 - 26/06/2019 16:11:48    2201334

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Replying To Ashrules:  "Hurling heads here think it was a valid question.
We put up with too much of this nonsense .The football manager has enough problems getting meath to a stage of competing with the better resourced big football counties, Asking him about hurling when Meath don't even play in the real hurling championship after a leinster final setback is incredible. Just get on with your hurling if thats what you want. Nothing to do with the rest of us."
Wow.

I thought this thread had reached maximum stupid a few posts back but then you produce this gem.

Looks like BoynesideBlue is right. Time to exit this one.

Greenfield (Meath) - Posts: 413 - 26/06/2019 16:41:34    2201351

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Can't believe people are defending and vindicating McEntee here, firstly the question was prob more directed to the many squad member (Flanagan, Burke, Ryan) whom played no part and prob won't in next round and so why not release them to play for their clubs, secondly this is not a once off incident where McEntee has lost his cool, how can a manager who cannot control his emotions make accurate and correct decisions (see leaving Conlon isolated for 60 mins), people mock the Gavins and Horans of the game for their lack of emotion but they are making required adjustments mid game.

dgaffer (Meath) - Posts: 21 - 26/06/2019 17:10:16    2201361

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I am also very disappointed with the Meath Chronicle, thought they would have handled the whole situation a bit better. I also agree with many other people who think the reporter knew what he was doing. Listened to the podcast and he didn't even sound that knowledgeable/enthusiastic about Meath winning the Christy Ring.

Always only liked Fergal Lynch from the chronicle, he has a great knowledge of football within the county and always very positive.

And just to say this isn't Andy McEntee's fault, the Meath County board organised hurling championship fixtures one week after the Leinster final, something they knew we would most likely be in and lose so we would be playing 2 weeks later. Also they organised it for one week after the Christy Ring final, something most people also thought Meath would win.

It is hardly ideal for the clubs to have a week with their county players after them winning and then celebrating after it.

Barney123 (Meath) - Posts: 676 - 26/06/2019 17:34:18    2201367

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He could always awansered"thans for your question but no, next".

Monkeycatcher (Meath) - Posts: 124 - 26/06/2019 17:51:17    2201376

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He could have always awansered "thans for your question but no, next".

Monkeycatcher (Meath) - Posts: 124 - 26/06/2019 17:57:14    2201379

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