Mayo ace Robbie Hennelly reveals impact of social media abuse on GAA players

Mayo goalkeeper Robbie Hennelly has spoken openly for the first time of the social media abuse he received in the aftermath of his side's defeat to Dublin in the 2016 All-Ireland SFC final replay at Croke Park.

The Breaffy ace conceded a penalty and got a black card in the encounter as Mayo lost by a single point, 1-15 to 1-14.

In an interview with the RTÉ Prime Time programme, entitled 'Blood, sweat and online smears', he said the abuse he got was the lowest point of his playing career.

He the reason he does not talk much about it because "it's something I've dealt with. I put it in its place."

He elaborated: "At the time it was something I found very difficult to deal with.

"There's lots of lessons in it. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy, at the same time, to be the focus of online abuse.

"Platforms like Twitter can become quite a dark place from time to time in relation to GAA.

"I've had stuff that I wouldn't repeat said about me.

"I was trying to deal with the consequences of messing up, and making mistakes, and letting my team-mates down and the supporters down.

"And then to have this whole online conversation going around, which is not just on my abilities as a footballer, it's also on my character. It's very personalised. And that was very tough at the time."

He said some supporters are so consumed by their own feelings after a defeat that they express their anger online in ways that they would not do in person.

After suffering days of caustic abuse on social media after the 2016 final replay, Hennelly posted a message on Instagram beside a picture of him getting the black card.

He posted the message he felt nobody was reflecting his perspective.

He explained: "I didn't want people to think that I went out there, played badly in a game, and didn't care about it. I did care about it.

"And it was obviously a tough time for me as a player, but obviously tough for the team."

He said the Instagram post did garner some more criticism, but he wanted to remind people "I'm not just a footballer. I'm a person as well. And, you know, I didn't want that to happen. I was hurt after it."

After the online attacks in 2016 the Mayo goalkeeper restricted his use of social media.

He said: "It’s kind of something that that I've detached myself from a lot because it offers very little to you as a player, whether it's positive or negative feedback."

"I realise that I just can't control it. It doesn't add anything to my life and as much as possible I cut it out."

He has learned to deal with social media abuse and has helped others in the GAA who find themselves on the receiving end of attacks from online trolls.

"I've had lots of conversations with team-mates, opposition players, underage players, who've gone through tough times.

"I suppose the main thing that I always say to them is that: 'it'll pass'. Always try and put it in perspective. It's a game of football. It's never only your fault. It's a team sport. And, if you approach it in the right way, you can learn from it," he explained.

Back in 2016, Hennelly questioned if he would ever play again, as he felt his reputation was ruined. But he came back stronger.

He believes that current GAA players need to have their voices heard more in the media as their voice is often missing.

He acknowledged: "I am as guilty as any player for staying away from the media. I haven't done an interview, I'd say, in the media for eight years.

"Players probably do need to be heard while they're still playing as opposed to retiring and then you can't stop them from talking."

He suggested that if the GAA asked two or three players to do press conferences immediately after games, any serious incidents in the game could be addressed.

"If they made a mistake, they could say that they hold their hands up and they made a mistake, and that would straight away lessen the impact on the likes of Twitter," he told Prime Time.

Watch reporter Conor McMorrow and producer Lucinda Glynn's report 'Blood, sweat and online smears' on the RTÉ Player at any time.