Best referee in Ireland?

[Jell 0 Biafra]

I sound like a broken record, but no doubt in my mind the answer is to have 2 refs for each inter-county games

Even better have a TMO. I've said it before not too long ago on here, not too hard a measure to implement either. Have another inter county ref up in the hogan with a TV monitor where he can watch a quick replay of any incidents so that the correct decision can be made. Have him hooked up via ear piece to the ref so that they are in constant communication.

Surely this would reduce the amount of time energy and resources wasted on appeals and the like, and possibly make players think twice before striking, headbutting or hair-ruffling an opponent. Will also improve the level of refereeing as a ref can make the big decisions with nearly no chance of getting them wrong.

I don't agree with the use of a TMO. There's too much in the game that's open to interpretation and I could easily see the TMO and the ref being in conflict

Could do it like in the NBA where the ref's original call (or non-call) stands unless the video unambiguously shows the call was mistaken.

[T Toatler]

Unfortunately no matter who ref was he would have struggled. Look folks no ref ever goes out to purposely make mistakes. Players are the same yet the ref gets awful abuse for very little. If a player makes a mistake he usually gets a shot at redemption but the poor ref does not. On yesterday a few errors were made. But they are not hanging offences by any means. Much of the problem on forums stems from people's perception of the rules or ignorance of them. Even the players as was shown when objecting to kick outs that stayed within the 21m line but travelled the required distance. Surely players should know this. A jersey pull too is neither a yellow nor black card on the first occasion but may be a yellow for a second Jersey tug. All told I can find very little wrong with ref yesterday bar a few errors but again 5/6 in every match is normal these days. On the subject I predicted Kinsella for the replay and Coldrick for the final.

[Stall the Bailer]

Unfortunately no matter who ref was he would have struggled. Look folks no ref ever goes out to purposely make mistakes. Players are the same yet the ref gets awful abuse for very little. If a player makes a mistake he usually gets a shot at redemption but the poor ref does not. On yesterday a few errors were made. But they are not hanging offences by any means. Much of the problem on forums stems from people's perception of the rules or ignorance of them. Even the players as was shown when objecting to kick outs that stayed within the 21m line but travelled the required distance. Surely players should know this. A jersey pull too is neither a yellow nor black card on the first occasion but may be a yellow for a second Jersey tug. All told I can find very little wrong with ref yesterday bar a few errors but again 5/6 in every match is normal these days. On the subject I predicted Kinsella for the replay and Coldrick for the final.

I would agree with all of this.

[tyroneman]

Unfortunately no matter who ref was he would have struggled. Look folks no ref ever goes out to purposely make mistakes. Players are the same yet the ref gets awful abuse for very little. If a player makes a mistake he usually gets a shot at redemption but the poor ref does not. On yesterday a few errors were made. But they are not hanging offences by any means. Much of the problem on forums stems from people's perception of the rules or ignorance of them. Even the players as was shown when objecting to kick outs that stayed within the 21m line but travelled the required distance. Surely players should know this. A jersey pull too is neither a yellow nor black card on the first occasion but may be a yellow for a second Jersey tug. All told I can find very little wrong with ref yesterday bar a few errors but again 5/6 in every match is normal these days. On the subject I predicted Kinsella for the replay and Coldrick for the final.

I would agree with all of this.

I would agree that referees, like goalkeepers, can have an excellent game but get hung out to dry over 1 mistake - sure Sludden was applauded off at half time before making 'that' call.....

There is a problem however where referees either a) don't know the rules or b) don't apply the rules consistently. How often have we seen a black card for one offence turns into a yellow for an identical offence 5min later...

[T Toatler]

I think it's more that they appear afraid or uncertain over the colour of the card. Against Tyrone Kerry shud have had a black no doubt. In comparison McAuleys was a borderline call in fairness. Could never see it given in a club match. I think all we want is the right call most of the time. In these matches though the ref needs his umpires and linesmen to be involved. If linesmen are to become involved it needs to be from the start. Two very quick yellow cards mostly does the trick. Martin Sludden will always be remembered for one mistake, most unfortunate for him but it does not make him a bad ref either. His treatment was appalling.

[Milltown Row2]

being unrealistic I feel, the referee on Sunday did well, and for not having automatic tv replays at his disposal he did really well, I'm all for the full use of the 7 officials and in most cases like off the ball stuff that goes on they normally use them, its a nonsense not too and just creates more problems for you....

I use the lines men to position themselves for frees also as some umpires are standing too close to the post (due to space around some grounds) and I can move into a different position so that we get good view of things.. certainly take the time keeping away from the referee also no reason as to why they have it now as they normally tell the standby referee how much time is left in injury (I always stop my watch during a break in play and re start it when play resumes, my watch is never the same as the managers though they have caught on now)

Like the players the referee is pumped up for the big games, he'll make mistakes like everyone else on the pitch, managers included and is annoyed when finding out that there should have been a yellow for that or black card for that... only takes a player or two to cross by an incident to put of a view of what actually happened, its just not that easy...

A thankless task made even harder but numpties who 'know all the rules' when they play back the game and sit with the rules book ;-)

[orangeman]

It's time to have 7 proper officials at the match ( 8 including the "4th" official ).
This would be for championship of course.

Best refs should referee only. If that amounts to 5/6 then so be it.

Next tier of refs should be linesmen only as they're not good enough to referee ( ironic I know ) nut near me out.

Next tier of refs should be umpires only. No more auld lads that have difficulty seeing if it's a wide, over the bar or a 45.

I agree with Tomás. If there are only a handful of top referees, then they should get all the games.

What's the point of having a championship panel of 30/40/50 referees ?.

It's time to grade them and move them up and down. 

[T Toatler]

I think the panel is only about 18/20 even less in hurling I think it's 10.

[Milltown Row2]

It's time to have 7 proper officials at the match ( 8 including the "4th" official ).
This would be for championship of course.

Best refs should referee only. If that amounts to 5/6 then so be it.

Next tier of refs should be linesmen only as they're not good enough to referee ( ironic I know ) nut near me out.

Next tier of refs should be umpires only. No more auld lads that have difficulty seeing if it's a wide, over the bar or a 45.

I agree with Tomás. If there are only a handful of top referees, then they should get all the games.

What's the point of having a championship panel of 30/40/50 referees ?.

It's time to grade them and move them up and down.

Would also look at fitness tests later on in the year also.. Christ some of them balloon out once they have past the initial fitness test done in Jan!!

[J70]

Maybe someone should invent some kind of speedy robot, computerized referee who can buzz around the action, levitating to get a birds eye view if necessary.  Because no human can possibly meet the standards required by some of the eejits in the media and this board.

[Croí na hÉireann]

To answer the original question, David Gough has done well any time I've seen him this year.

[Shannoncider]

To answer the original question, David Gough has done well any time I've seen him this year.

Would agree. Best I have seen in recent years.
Two worst are Marty Duffy and Cormac Reilly hasn't a clue does not even know the rules hes a joke.
Eddie Kinsella is way over rated too hes a poor ref

[Applesisapples]

A TMO can be used in a constructive way, for example allow the ref to ask a closed question only. Is that a penalty yes or no? Was that a punch yes or no?

[mrhardyannual]

One of the problems is that the pool is too small and the continued use of a "select" band of refs tends to exaccerbate the problem as players know how to play them. Its hard to believe that a football county like Galway does not have a top class ref since Ml Curley. Mayo have not had an All Ireland ref since PJ McGrath. Roscommon? Cork and Kerry are under-represented too though with Kerry in the semis almost annually it might be hard to progress.
The group of refs we have range from average to good. they are under constant analysis by assessors and are often second guessed by these guys who have all the time in the world to make decisions. this leads to refs reffing to protect their rating rather than going by their instincts.
Finally the media play a huge part in this. In nearly every game he refs Marty Duffy will blow while there is action out the field and award a 13m free for holding in the full forward line. this happens irregardless of whither the forward in question was even going to make a play for the ball. The media nearly wet themselseves at his vision and the resulting score often has a crucial bearing on a game. Have you ever seen a ref blow a free for off the ball holding of a defender?

[Conallach]

I've always liked Maurice Deegan, but I can see the argument for Coldrick as well.

Gough is very, very fussy at times (and by all accounts very sensitive too) and can interrupt the flow of the game unnecessarily, but even he's pretty solid. The standard's not so bad.

There is one consistently awful ref, mentioned above, but the rest are decent officials who are as capable of having off days as anyone else, players included.