Referees have a difficult job to do but a few do lose the plot at times

Inside Track with John McIntyre

GAA referees were in the dock after their officiating of big matches in the provincial club championships over the weekend. Two in particular had to run the gauntlet of criticism after their controversial decisions contributed to the championship runs of Mountbellew-Moylough footballers and Loughmore-Castleiney hurlers coming to an end.

Let’s start at Hyde Park on Saturday. Mountbellew-Moylough were favourites to advance to the Connacht Club senior football final when taking on Padraig Pearses of Roscommon. It was never going to be a routine assignment for the Galway champions, especially in difficult conditions in early December.

In a low-scoring, competitive encounter, Mountbellew-Moylough finished with 13 players and fury in their eyes over Jerome Henry’s decision-making. Three of Val Daly’s team received black cards while another – midfielder Matthew Barrett – was sent off late in the game for a second yellow. Pearses didn’t escape the Mayo official’s censure either as they had to cope with two black cards.

The majority of the black cards – remember, brought in to stamp out cynical play – handed out were difficult to justify. Barry McHugh spent ten minutes on the sideline for pushing Pearses goalkeeper  Paul Whelan to the ground in the aftermath of his superbly-taken first half goal. Sure, McHugh deserved a ticking off for getting over-excited, but a black card . . . never in a month of Sundays!

McHugh’s day wasn’t about to get much better. With the teams level at 1-7 each close to the end, the Mountbellew attacker wasn’t awarded a free for a blatant foul challenge or a mark which he was entitled to in two separate incidents. These were match defining decisions in a semi-final which was still hanging in the balance.

Barrett’s dismissal on a second yellow was also baffling. All he did was put in a committed challenge only for Henry to flash a yellow card. Like McHugh earlier in the game, he looked shocked by the sanction. Considering the high stakes and demanding conditions, it was never a dirty game. The exchanges were tough and physical alright, but the over-strict refereeing only did a disservice to the rival players.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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