Online abuse a ‘major’ problem for GAA’s TikTok generation, warns Roscommon ace

As a teacher, Hussey interacts on a daily basis with teenagers for whom the mobile phone is like an extension of their bodies.

And he fears that intrusive social media criticism will affect people in that age bracket who go on to become elite county footballers or hurlers.

The defender’s comments come against the backdrop of criticism directed at team-mate Cathal Heneghan following a recent league incident involving Kerry’s Jason Foley.

Roscommon manager Davy Burke subsequently launched a vehement defence of his player while insisting that something must be done about “toxic” social media abuse.

While Hussey didn’t pay massive attention to how that controversy played out on social media, he has encouraged younger players to steer well clear of it.

“Personally, I haven’t noticed many players, younger players, in our panel who would be affected by it. But as a teacher – and I teach 17/18-year-olds – I could see how it could become a major issue,” he said, speaking at this week’s Connnacht SFC launch.

“I am technically a young adult,” the 29-year-old added, “but especially the younger people, younger teenagers . . . the phone is a second part of their body.

“They’re on their phones, TikTok, social media, you name it, and I could easily see how it could become a major focus for younger players in the coming years too as this generation would become inter-county players. I could definitely see how it could become a problem.”

Heneghan found himself in the eye of an online storm after an incident – immediately after he had fisted a goal against Kerry last Sunday week – was picked up by the TG4 cameras.

As the Roscommon sub rose from the ground, he made contact with a prostrate Foley’s leg. No action was taken by referee Noel Mooney, but the Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) subsequently investigated and proposed a one-match ban.

In the wake of his team’s top-flight relegation following defeat to Derry, Burke told the Roscommon Herald: “Social media is a massive problem. I would have pulled Cathal aside during the week. It’s not a nice place to be, particularly for a 23- or 24-year-old. It’s rotten, it’s toxic. Something has to be done about it.

“Cathal absolutely didn’t mean it. Yes, he stood on Jason Foley’s leg. He took his suspension and we’ll move on, but it’s terrible the way these people on social media can disrespect a player and drag him through the mud like that.”

On the same day, after his team’s win over Galway, Kerry manager Jack O’Connor clarified that the serious ankle injury suffered by Foley against Roscommon resulted from a “separate incident”.

The full-back had resumed play after treatment but, just a few minutes later, he landed on his right ankle after contesting a kick-out.

Heneghan and Hussey both play for Michael Glaveys. Asked about the abuse directed at his clubmate, the latter said: “I wasn’t actively looking to see what was being said about Cathal but I just know, in a general sense, it can be very hard.

“At the end of the day we’re amateur players, we play for the love of the game,” he expanded. “We want to become the best players we can be, represent your county, but probably don’t sign up to this side of things.

“Everyone’s entitled to an opinion; everyone has opinions about sport, life, politics, you name it. But what kind of bugs me personally – and I haven’t been speaking to Cathal about this at all – but it certainly annoys me where you see the faceless accounts and people saying nasty things, but they have no name or they have no face.

“Look, it’s happened, it’s done now, Cathal has moved on, we’ve moved on.”

Hussey drew a comparison between people on Twitter “talking nonsense” to the barstool critics of yesteryear.

“In the past, if those people were in a pub, you’d just walk away from them and no one would listen to them. But nowadays they have this amplifier and everyone has to see their opinions,” he said.

“I suppose I wouldn’t be at the top level of the game, so I wouldn’t be scrutinised like the higher lads would be, but it can be tough. I can imagine the higher you go up, the more scrutiny you get, there’s no two ways about it.

“I know some players can be searching for their names the odd time . . . but it’s just better to avoid it, in my opinion.”

Turning off notifications “really is the best solution”, he concluded. “I wouldn’t be looking for it either at the best of times. I try to stay away from it.”