Ulster Championship 2025

[David McKeown]

Point is refs seem to making multi mistakes during matches. A player queries that,  its moved up. Who reviews a poor ref performance. Does somebody ever come out and say. Sorry that mistake cause you a game.

Ref's are assessed every game at that level.

Players managers make more mistakes in a game, period.

You can watch 4 games in a weekend and see the rules being applied differently each game. Has anyone ever seen black cards for a melee given since Gough game them to Tyrone/Armagh. Has anyone seen a black card and a penalty given for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity given since Gough gave one?

A poor ref decision can have far more of an impact than a mistake by a player or manager.

Rules need to be made simpler to help refs but lets not kid ourselves that refs are at a high consistent standard.

Before anyone jumps on supporting the ref bandwagon. Players and managers are criticized weekly during and after matches and national programs such as the Sunday Game. Its not much to ask that refs performances are reviewed as well

At least Gough is consistent on that he gave them out in the Armagh Derry game. Of course I still don't know what a melee actually is but that's not Gough's fault.

[Milltown Row2]

What new rule says a defender can't block a kick (in play)?
All rule changes are "imposed from above" i.e., Congress.
Blocking a free/mark is cynical play and deserves a 50m punishment.
Handing the ball to an opponent for a free is good sportsmanship.
Abusing refs and officials gas to be stopped.

What new rule says a defender can't block a kick (in play)?
All rule changes are "imposed from above" i.e., Congress.
Blocking a free/mark is cynical play and deserves a 50m punishment.
Handing the ball to an opponent for a free is good sportsmanship.
Abusing refs and officials gas to be stopped.

Said it before but was at a minor game where one of our lads fouled opposition player A. Opposition player B ran up to him to take the ball of our player. Our player threw the ball over players B head back to player A and where the foul was committed. Referee brought it forward 50m. Did our player not practice good sportsmanship there and still punished for it? Funny if our player did give it to player B though I'm sure the ref would send him back to where the foul was committed, slowing the game down.

As Mulligan said on BBC how do players know what refs take as abuse? Someone could say something innocuous enough and the ref could take it the wrong way all of a sudden it's brought up for a either a guaranteed point or a chance for 2.

As MilltownRow constantly says, players and managers make mistakes. But I've heard them get abuse shouted at them if the mistake is bad enough either from teammates or management. If refs make a mistake why would they not get shouted at too? It's unrealistic

Player should not have thrown the ball anywhere, everything after that is pointless.. A player doesn't lose his manliness by handing the ball back and sticking to the rule (I don't like it btw, but its in place). Just hand it back..

I think you know when someone is being a dick with their comments, if you don't, well you (not you personally) could be intitled to DLA!

Refs will make far less mistakes in a game than a player or a manager, fouling, misplaced pass, shooting instead of passing, touching the ball on the ground, too many steps, dissent the list goes on, as for the manager, picking the wrong team, wrong tactics, poor training sessions, bad preparation and so on..

I've managed senior teams in senior leagues, we lose is not down to the referee, as there will be a lot of reasons in that game  over 60 odd minutes as to why we lost, but it won't be down to those odd calls you didn't get in a game, they also manage to even themselves out over the course of the game, losers blame the ref 

[J70]

What new rule says a defender can't block a kick (in play)?
All rule changes are "imposed from above" i.e., Congress.
Blocking a free/mark is cynical play and deserves a 50m punishment.
Handing the ball to an opponent for a free is good sportsmanship.
Abusing refs and officials gas to be stopped.

Indeed.

Hopefully the opinions of the more vociferous on here are not widely shared, because if these improvements are rolled back and the game regresses back to what it became over the past five years, I'm personally done with it. I've got better things to do.

[Wildweasel74]

Sportsmanship? Gaelic football one of those games that I wouldn't associate with sportsmanship. Hand the ball bck, oh f**king why. Just set it down.

[thebigfullforward]

What new rule says a defender can't block a kick (in play)?
All rule changes are "imposed from above" i.e., Congress.
Blocking a free/mark is cynical play and deserves a 50m punishment.
Handing the ball to an opponent for a free is good sportsmanship.
Abusing refs and officials gas to be stopped.

What new rule says a defender can't block a kick (in play)?
All rule changes are "imposed from above" i.e., Congress.
Blocking a free/mark is cynical play and deserves a 50m punishment.
Handing the ball to an opponent for a free is good sportsmanship.
Abusing refs and officials gas to be stopped.

Said it before but was at a minor game where one of our lads fouled opposition player A. Opposition player B ran up to him to take the ball of our player. Our player threw the ball over players B head back to player A and where the foul was committed. Referee brought it forward 50m. Did our player not practice good sportsmanship there and still punished for it? Funny if our player did give it to player B though I'm sure the ref would send him back to where the foul was committed, slowing the game down.

As Mulligan said on BBC how do players know what refs take as abuse? Someone could say something innocuous enough and the ref could take it the wrong way all of a sudden it's brought up for a either a guaranteed point or a chance for 2.

As MilltownRow constantly says, players and managers make mistakes. But I've heard them get abuse shouted at them if the mistake is bad enough either from teammates or management. If refs make a mistake why would they not get shouted at too? It's unrealistic

Player should not have thrown the ball anywhere, everything after that is pointless.. A player doesn't lose his manliness by handing the ball back and sticking to the rule (I don't like it btw, but its in place). Just hand it back..

I think you know when someone is being a dick with their comments, if you don't, well you (not you personally) could be intitled to DLA!

Refs will make far less mistakes in a game than a player or a manager, fouling, misplaced pass, shooting instead of passing, touching the ball on the ground, too many steps, dissent the list goes on, as for the manager, picking the wrong team, wrong tactics, poor training sessions, bad preparation and so on..

I've managed senior teams in senior leagues, we lose is not down to the referee, as there will be a lot of reasons in that game  over 60 odd minutes as to why we lost, but it won't be down to those odd calls you didn't get in a game, they also manage to even themselves out over the course of the game, losers blame the ref 

He gave the ball back to the player he fouled and from where the foul was committed. Is that not the rule? Does it state somewhere in the rule that he has to pass the ball to the player 5 yards ahead of where the foul was committed because that doesn't sound fair.

[Sheedy]

What new rule says a defender can't block a kick (in play)?
All rule changes are "imposed from above" i.e., Congress.
Blocking a free/mark is cynical play and deserves a 50m punishment.
Handing the ball to an opponent for a free is good sportsmanship.
Abusing refs and officials gas to be stopped.

Indeed.

Hopefully the opinions of the more vociferous on here are not widely shared, because if these improvements are rolled back and the game regresses back to what it became over the past five years, I'm personally done with it. I've got better things to do.

not sure if these new rules are necessarily improvements. What we're witnessing now is a shoot out with 2 teams hardly laying a glove on each other.

The ball being brought forward 50 yards is ridiculous imo and equally ridiculous is the player being allowed to then bring it out to tap over an easy 2 pointer.

Was at Down/Louth league game, Down forward lost possession, he was then chasing back the Louth player who then went over half way, Down player had to stop when he reached half way allowing Louth player to run on, it was weird to watch.

Part of what makes gaa so special is the intensity and the tackles, at the minute we've lost that, be interesting to see how it evolves as year goes on.

[Milltown Row2]

What new rule says a defender can't block a kick (in play)?
All rule changes are "imposed from above" i.e., Congress.
Blocking a free/mark is cynical play and deserves a 50m punishment.
Handing the ball to an opponent for a free is good sportsmanship.
Abusing refs and officials gas to be stopped.

What new rule says a defender can't block a kick (in play)?
All rule changes are "imposed from above" i.e., Congress.
Blocking a free/mark is cynical play and deserves a 50m punishment.
Handing the ball to an opponent for a free is good sportsmanship.
Abusing refs and officials gas to be stopped.

Said it before but was at a minor game where one of our lads fouled opposition player A. Opposition player B ran up to him to take the ball of our player. Our player threw the ball over players B head back to player A and where the foul was committed. Referee brought it forward 50m. Did our player not practice good sportsmanship there and still punished for it? Funny if our player did give it to player B though I'm sure the ref would send him back to where the foul was committed, slowing the game down.

As Mulligan said on BBC how do players know what refs take as abuse? Someone could say something innocuous enough and the ref could take it the wrong way all of a sudden it's brought up for a either a guaranteed point or a chance for 2.

As MilltownRow constantly says, players and managers make mistakes. But I've heard them get abuse shouted at them if the mistake is bad enough either from teammates or management. If refs make a mistake why would they not get shouted at too? It's unrealistic

Player should not have thrown the ball anywhere, everything after that is pointless.. A player doesn't lose his manliness by handing the ball back and sticking to the rule (I don't like it btw, but its in place). Just hand it back..

I think you know when someone is being a dick with their comments, if you don't, well you (not you personally) could be intitled to DLA!

Refs will make far less mistakes in a game than a player or a manager, fouling, misplaced pass, shooting instead of passing, touching the ball on the ground, too many steps, dissent the list goes on, as for the manager, picking the wrong team, wrong tactics, poor training sessions, bad preparation and so on..

I've managed senior teams in senior leagues, we lose is not down to the referee, as there will be a lot of reasons in that game  over 60 odd minutes as to why we lost, but it won't be down to those odd calls you didn't get in a game, they also manage to even themselves out over the course of the game, losers blame the ref 

He gave the ball back to the player he fouled and from where the foul was committed. Is that not the rule? Does it state somewhere in the rule that he has to pass the ball to the player 5 yards ahead of where the foul was committed because that doesn't sound fair.

You said he threw, so he didn't hand it back?

[thebigfullforward]

What new rule says a defender can't block a kick (in play)?
All rule changes are "imposed from above" i.e., Congress.
Blocking a free/mark is cynical play and deserves a 50m punishment.
Handing the ball to an opponent for a free is good sportsmanship.
Abusing refs and officials gas to be stopped.

What new rule says a defender can't block a kick (in play)?
All rule changes are "imposed from above" i.e., Congress.
Blocking a free/mark is cynical play and deserves a 50m punishment.
Handing the ball to an opponent for a free is good sportsmanship.
Abusing refs and officials gas to be stopped.

Said it before but was at a minor game where one of our lads fouled opposition player A. Opposition player B ran up to him to take the ball of our player. Our player threw the ball over players B head back to player A and where the foul was committed. Referee brought it forward 50m. Did our player not practice good sportsmanship there and still punished for it? Funny if our player did give it to player B though I'm sure the ref would send him back to where the foul was committed, slowing the game down.

As Mulligan said on BBC how do players know what refs take as abuse? Someone could say something innocuous enough and the ref could take it the wrong way all of a sudden it's brought up for a either a guaranteed point or a chance for 2.

As MilltownRow constantly says, players and managers make mistakes. But I've heard them get abuse shouted at them if the mistake is bad enough either from teammates or management. If refs make a mistake why would they not get shouted at too? It's unrealistic

Player should not have thrown the ball anywhere, everything after that is pointless.. A player doesn't lose his manliness by handing the ball back and sticking to the rule (I don't like it btw, but its in place). Just hand it back..

I think you know when someone is being a dick with their comments, if you don't, well you (not you personally) could be intitled to DLA!

Refs will make far less mistakes in a game than a player or a manager, fouling, misplaced pass, shooting instead of passing, touching the ball on the ground, too many steps, dissent the list goes on, as for the manager, picking the wrong team, wrong tactics, poor training sessions, bad preparation and so on..

I've managed senior teams in senior leagues, we lose is not down to the referee, as there will be a lot of reasons in that game  over 60 odd minutes as to why we lost, but it won't be down to those odd calls you didn't get in a game, they also manage to even themselves out over the course of the game, losers blame the ref 

He gave the ball back to the player he fouled and from where the foul was committed. Is that not the rule? Does it state somewhere in the rule that he has to pass the ball to the player 5 yards ahead of where the foul was committed because that doesn't sound fair.

You said he threw, so he didn't hand it back?

Come on now lol. The ball ended up in the opposition players hands from where the foul was committed. This is the type of stuff that turns people against the refs. Use a bit of cop on and stop making an issue out of nothing. They aren't in nursery having to say please and thank you and hold hands. They're nearly adults ffs. No doubt if he handed the ball to the player running at him the ref would've brought it back to where the foul was committed.

[Milltown Row2]

What new rule says a defender can't block a kick (in play)?
All rule changes are "imposed from above" i.e., Congress.
Blocking a free/mark is cynical play and deserves a 50m punishment.
Handing the ball to an opponent for a free is good sportsmanship.
Abusing refs and officials gas to be stopped.

What new rule says a defender can't block a kick (in play)?
All rule changes are "imposed from above" i.e., Congress.
Blocking a free/mark is cynical play and deserves a 50m punishment.
Handing the ball to an opponent for a free is good sportsmanship.
Abusing refs and officials gas to be stopped.

Said it before but was at a minor game where one of our lads fouled opposition player A. Opposition player B ran up to him to take the ball of our player. Our player threw the ball over players B head back to player A and where the foul was committed. Referee brought it forward 50m. Did our player not practice good sportsmanship there and still punished for it? Funny if our player did give it to player B though I'm sure the ref would send him back to where the foul was committed, slowing the game down.

As Mulligan said on BBC how do players know what refs take as abuse? Someone could say something innocuous enough and the ref could take it the wrong way all of a sudden it's brought up for a either a guaranteed point or a chance for 2.

As MilltownRow constantly says, players and managers make mistakes. But I've heard them get abuse shouted at them if the mistake is bad enough either from teammates or management. If refs make a mistake why would they not get shouted at too? It's unrealistic

Player should not have thrown the ball anywhere, everything after that is pointless.. A player doesn't lose his manliness by handing the ball back and sticking to the rule (I don't like it btw, but its in place). Just hand it back..

I think you know when someone is being a dick with their comments, if you don't, well you (not you personally) could be intitled to DLA!

Refs will make far less mistakes in a game than a player or a manager, fouling, misplaced pass, shooting instead of passing, touching the ball on the ground, too many steps, dissent the list goes on, as for the manager, picking the wrong team, wrong tactics, poor training sessions, bad preparation and so on..

I've managed senior teams in senior leagues, we lose is not down to the referee, as there will be a lot of reasons in that game  over 60 odd minutes as to why we lost, but it won't be down to those odd calls you didn't get in a game, they also manage to even themselves out over the course of the game, losers blame the ref 

He gave the ball back to the player he fouled and from where the foul was committed. Is that not the rule? Does it state somewhere in the rule that he has to pass the ball to the player 5 yards ahead of where the foul was committed because that doesn't sound fair.

You said he threw, so he didn't hand it back?

Come on now lol. The ball ended up in the opposition players hands from where the foul was committed. This is the type of stuff that turns people against the refs. Use a bit of cop on and stop making an issue out of nothing. They aren't in nursery having to say please and thank you and hold hands. They're nearly adults ffs. No doubt if he handed the ball to the player running at him the ref would've brought it back to where the foul was committed.

Again I've said I don't like it and provided there's no malice/intent or piss taking I'll let it slide.. but the rule is the rule. Either we want ref's to be robots or we like some common sense

[JoG2]

Sportsmanship? Gaelic football one of those games that I wouldn't associate with sportsmanship. Hand the ball bck, oh f**king why. Just set it down.

Such a lack of sportsmanship that refs got hit, had to hide in the boots of cars, get escorted off the pitch such was the levels of savagery from time to time, something had to be done

[Stall the Bailer]

The rule is, Not handing the ball to the nearest opposition player (handing ball back in full). Sounds like the ref was 100% correct, the player did not hand it back and also not to the nearest opponent.

[Armagh18]

Sportsmanship? Gaelic football one of those games that I wouldn't associate with sportsmanship. Hand the ball bck, oh f**king why. Just set it down.

Such a lack of sportsmanship that refs got hit, had to hide in the boots of cars, get escorted off the pitch such was the levels of savagery from time to time, something had to be done

Don't think the new rules will help that at all..

[inroundthesquare]

Point is refs seem to making multi mistakes during matches. A player queries that,  its moved up. Who reviews a poor ref performance. Does somebody ever come out and say. Sorry that mistake cause you a game.

Ref's are assessed every game at that level.

Players managers make more mistakes in a game, period.

You can watch 4 games in a weekend and see the rules being applied differently each game. Has anyone ever seen black cards for a melee given since Gough game them to Tyrone/Armagh. Has anyone seen a black card and a penalty given for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity given since Gough gave one?

A poor ref decision can have far more of an impact than a mistake by a player or manager.

Rules need to be made simpler to help refs but lets not kid ourselves that refs are at a high consistent standard.

Before anyone jumps on supporting the ref bandwagon. Players and managers are criticized weekly during and after matches and national programs such as the Sunday Game. Its not much to ask that refs performances are reviewed as well

At least Gough is consistent on that he gave them out in the Armagh Derry game. Of course I still don't know what a melee actually is but that's not Gough's fault.

It was 4 reds that Gough gave to Tyrone and 1 to Armagh. Not black cards.
Some were saying this would be a precedent set but we knew at the time it was Gough taking a chance to put manners on Tyrone for perceived "cute hoorism" during the All Ireland win and it has been proven since.

[tonto1888]

3. Ref moving in frees and folk opting for 2 pointers.

This one I really dislike. I don't mind the ref moving it up, that's fair, but that should be it. The player should not be allowed to go for 2

I agree with that too, but I suppose what's stopping a player from intentionally not giving the ball over, or slabbering, to get a free outside the arc moved inside the arc. In that instance, you would obviously want to be able to take ut from where you originally were supposed to.

I get what you're saying but think that's a different set of circumstances. Or maybe a free should only be worth 1 regardless of where it's taken from. Like a 45

[David McKeown]

Point is refs seem to making multi mistakes during matches. A player queries that,  its moved up. Who reviews a poor ref performance. Does somebody ever come out and say. Sorry that mistake cause you a game.

Ref's are assessed every game at that level.

Players managers make more mistakes in a game, period.

You can watch 4 games in a weekend and see the rules being applied differently each game. Has anyone ever seen black cards for a melee given since Gough game them to Tyrone/Armagh. Has anyone seen a black card and a penalty given for denying a clear goal scoring opportunity given since Gough gave one?

A poor ref decision can have far more of an impact than a mistake by a player or manager.

Rules need to be made simpler to help refs but lets not kid ourselves that refs are at a high consistent standard.

Before anyone jumps on supporting the ref bandwagon. Players and managers are criticized weekly during and after matches and national programs such as the Sunday Game. Its not much to ask that refs performances are reviewed as well

At least Gough is consistent on that he gave them out in the Armagh Derry game. Of course I still don't know what a melee actually is but that's not Gough's fault.

It was 4 reds that Gough gave to Tyrone and 1 to Armagh. Not black cards.
Some were saying this would be a precedent set but we knew at the time it was Gough taking a chance to put manners on Tyrone for perceived "cute hoorism" during the All Ireland win and it has been proven since.

Yeah but since that Armagh v Tyrone game the rule has changed so that contributing to a melee is now a black card and not a red.