The challenge is to encourage greater respect

GAA players have always had to contend with criticism and even abuse, but Sean Potts, the Gaelic Players’ Association’s head of communications, explains the need to keep things in perspective in the age of social media

You have always had a phenomenon whereby people feel the need to abuse, but what we are seeing now with social media is that it gives people a public platform. It is an area where people get the chance to bully.

Abuse exists in all sports, but there is often a more irate commentary coming from people who feel ownership of the GAA: ‘I am a county person and my county has let me down so I am going to give off in this way because my pride has been hurt so much’.