https://twitter.com/RTEgaa/status/1580623309540306945https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2022/1020/1330310-the-case-for-putting-microphones-on-gaa-referees/Who would benefit from referees giving post-match interviews? Would it be an opportunity for fans to better understand the decisions made on the pitch? Could it offset some of the anger that builds in the wake of supposedly controversial decisions?
Referees rarely, if ever, give post-match interviews. But perhaps if they did, would we the fans, the players, the mentors - and the referees themselves - receive any benefit? Perhaps.
After a recent trial in August conducted by TG4, in which they mic'd up referee John O'Halloran for the Kerry Senior Hurling Championship final, there were several people who were enthused by the idea.
As the action unfolded, viewers were able to understand exactly why the referee made a certain decision.
This is not a new phenomenon; it has been the case for several years in sports such as American football and rugby union - a sport others look to as the standard bearer for respecting match officials.
Referee John O'Halloran who was mic'd up
"At the moment, there probably isn't that protocol in place where I can come out and explain a decision," said Cork referee Colm Lyons.
"It's all about communication. I think we can all do a bit better in terms of explaining decisions. I think most of the decisions stand for themselves. We'd be the first as referees to put our hands up and say, 'look, we got it wrong'.
"Does everybody as a player, manager, coach, selector say 'we got it wrong'? Some will, some won't. I think referees, we're very open to improving."
Earlier this year, RTÉ Head of Sport Declan McBennett hinted at the idea of mic-ing up referees after a brawl between Tyrone and Armagh players in the Allianz National League.
McBennett wished for "the ability for referees to articulate their decisions".
"That match between Armagh and Tyrone, most people didn't know why there was five players sent off. They didn’t know why there was four from Tyrone and one from Armagh got sent off," said McBennett.
Or perhaps would the general public berate officials all the more if they are privy to the on-field decision making process?
"We want to come off that field and say, 'do you know what? There wasn't an incident there now that is going to cause us contention tonight'," said referee Lyons.
"Or if you're sitting down [after a game], 'will we watch The Sunday Game? Will we avoid The Sunday Game?'"
Tyrone referee Sean Hurson got the big one this year. He was the man in the middle for the All-Ireland SFC final between Kerry and Galway.
Hurson is an experienced official, with vast amounts of experience refereeing in the often intense Ulster Football Championship.
He made reference to pressure put on inexperienced referees by both players and management.
"I think when you're starting out refereeing, everybody’s trying to find a weakness and they’re trying to gain a benefit to their team so coaches and players are focusing on what they can get away with," said Hurson.
"The culture is there: how can we get better at beating the opposition? Sometimes they reflect on weaknesses or perceived weaknesses of the referee and unfortunately that’s what’s happening with our coaches.
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