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[Referees fitness test]

Here a copy of the latest fitness test

Referees fitness test

Whistle blowing. Short sharp blasts and long whistles will both be tested. Additional points awarded for style during this test.

Finger pointing. 4 quick forward jabs of the right index finger. Followed by one 30 second extended up wards point.

Brandishing red and yellow cards. Any referee who cannot tell the difference between red and yellow will fail. Additional points awarded for style.

Fatness test. The referee will be tested wearing an extra large O'Neill's referee's jersey. Points are deducted for any signs of slack in the jersey.

Counting. Referees will be asked to mark a booklet every time the examiner shouts point and add up the total correctly at the end of the exercise. A margin of error of plus or minus 5 is acceptable.

Shaking belly from side to side while pretending to run. This test continues throughout the full 15 minutes of the test.

Eyesight test. This no longer forms part of the referee's fitness test.

There's a fair few refs in Antrim wouldn't even pass this fitness test!! 

Cheski are all over the place at the back! It should 3-0.

I see the North Antrim indoor competions are on this week. Great to see the Donegal clubs, Strabane & Ballygalget all travelling up for it. That takes a bit of commitment for a 10.00am start in Ballymoney or Ballymena.  Is the Pearse's team the club from New Lodge that folded a few years ago. If it is, good to see them back.

A shortage of qualitry coaches is a major problem all over. Some of the larger clubs in terms of membership cann't get anyone prepared to look after the kidsat all, never mind quality coaches. Even getting parents to drive to away matches is a struggle. They expect the club volunteers to do it all for a membership fee of a £10 a year!
The only way to improve hurling in the north is through coaching at a young age. That's where the focus of the association needs to be.

That's a nice double header in Mullingar. The Ulster junior champions always struggle at the semi final stage. Junior in the rest of Ireland is far higher standard than in Ulster.  I'd expect Cushendall to give Loughrea a good game but Ahoghill will be out classed.

Should a "journalist" not be checking his sources?

What has happened to the famous Scouse sense of humour? Keep her lit Slim!!

Surely sense will prevail and the offical responsible will come forward. Attacking refs and officilas has to be taken very seriously. I would hate to see any Ulster hurling club suspended for a year but if they can't behave themselves maybe that's what it takes to teach them a lesson and set an example.

1914 since Liverpool conceded 6 goals at home. Hard to believe.

Oops! 3-6. 4 for Baptista

3-5! The comeback continues!

2-5, great goal from Gerard. Start of a great comeback?

You can't blame him for the 5th.  How many is it going to be? Liverpool are all over the place at the back. A total joke.

Now it's 1-5! Unbelievable!!

Great penalty save from Dudek!