Shane McEntee has defended his father Andy, and rejected a claim that Meath GAA paid €4,000 for flights to bring him home to play for the county in May's Leinster semi-final against Dublin.
Andy McEntee stepped down as Meath football manager on Monday after six years in charge. Criticism of McEntee's time at the helm followed on social media, including a suggestion his son should not have been on the panel.
Shane McEntee, a lieutenant in the Irish Defence Forces who captained Meath during the National League, left Ireland for a tour of Mali in March. He returned to feature for the county in the 13-point defeat to Dublin.
"Flights cost €1k and I paid for them," Shane McEntee wrote on Twitter, responding to a tweet which has since been deleted.
"I then paid another €500 to change it and make an extra training.
"Online abuse, letters to the house.
"You can put yourself forward for these roles or you can tweet about it, one takes a bit more conviction."
Flights cost €1k and I paid for them. I then paid another €500 to change it and make an extra training.
Online abuse, letters to the house.
You can put yourself forward for these roles or you can tweet about it, one takes a bit more conviction. https://t.co/5XKAOZ9Oct
— Shane McEntee (@ShaneMcEntee1) June 6, 2022
Meath's championship campaign ended on Saturday evening with a two-point defeat to Clare in the first round of the All-Ireland qualifiers.
"After completing 6 years as manager of the Meath Football team, I am stepping down from the position and will not be seeking a third term," Andy McEntee said in a statement released through the county board.
"It has been an honour to have been manager of the Meath Senior Football team and I’d like to thank the Chairperson of Coiste na Mí, John Kavanagh and former chairpersons Peter O’Halloran and Conor Tormey for their full support during my tenure.
"But most of all I’d like to thank all the players and management teams that I have worked with over the years. I wish the county every success in the future."
Meath GAA statement on Andy McEntee departure
Coiste na Mí added that they "would like to put on record our thanks to Andy McEntee and his management team for all the work and time invested into Meath football over the last 6 years.
"Andy’s commitment and dedication to the players in particular and to Meath football, in general, has been extraordinary. A high point was the county reaching Division 1 of the league and the “Super 8s” series."
Meath have begun the process of finding the successor to Andy McEntee.
Thanks Brian. I really hope the next manager doesn’t have a family with access to social media. I also hope I never raise anyone to be as pathetic as to abuse people from behind a keyboard. Would they put in an ounce of the effort and dedication he did?…doubtful. https://t.co/AGzUI1IuuU
— Aisling McEntee (@ashmcentee) June 6, 2022
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