Penalising the stronger player

[Bord na Mona man]

Another one of his specialities was one of my real gear grinders. Like most referees, his four-step rule was actually an eight-step rule, unless you shape to play the ball, then change your mind. If you do that after even one or two steps, it's overcarryng in the eyes of most referees.

Penalising the selling a dummy, one of the sublime skills of the game, is another infuriating one.

I hate that one too. I think refs take their cue from the crowd howling at the player's apparent hesitation in playing it and blow the whistle.

No offence has been committed, the player could be hopping and soloing profusely every two seconds and every half step, but still gets pinged for changing his mind or checking his stride.

It must be down to some sort of anti-loitering directive from Croke Park.