Derry Club Football & Hurling original

[GTP]

I'd have went for Mark Craig as Dungiven's last Derry footballer. You would like to think every senior team would have someone who could play county football but I guess it doesn't work like that.
Was told BOH wasn't about much in Lavey, if he was definitely not doing shooting practice considering their scores in the league so far.

[Mario]

It's mad to think that it must be 10+ years since we (Dungiven) had a player make an appearance for the senior team.

Was that Kevin Johnstone?    There is a lot of potential in that Dungiven team , they have a very astute manager in James McNicholl and a have a stronger squad this year  With the likes of  Padraig  Okane / Padraig Haran/ Darragh 0'Neill/ KB Mullan to come in from  the last years minor team  and John and Richie Mullan are supposedly playing football this year also

Yeah it would be Kevin Johnston. He was in the panel more recently under Gallagher but I don't think he played any games.

Definitely a lot of talent coming through but it takes more than that to be a regular county player. Fingers crossed it won't be another 10 years.

[Stickman]

I think the refereeing situation in the county needs addressed. Most weeks we are seeing referees do reserve and senior games. What happens the senior game if the ref gets injured in the reserve game and is unable to do the second game? Also Dungiven vs Ballinderry seriously delayed yesterday as no ref turned up for the senior game.

Does anyone know what is going on?

[LoughNeagh]

I think the refereeing situation in the county needs addressed. Most weeks we are seeing referees do reserve and senior games. What happens the senior game if the ref gets injured in the reserve game and is unable to do the second game? Also Dungiven vs Ballinderry seriously delayed yesterday as no ref turned up for the senior game.

Does anyone know what is going on?

Impossible job, who would want to be a ref, abuse all round.

Also, i'd guess there is a big increase in LFGA games in recent years

[Brendan]

Politics, clubs not providing refs, refs who do the test to clear their clubs but don't actually do any games, refs burnt out from doing so much etc.

The hurling situation is even worse, think they've completely abandoned underage games

[Uncle Phil]

I think the refereeing situation in the county needs addressed. Most weeks we are seeing referees do reserve and senior games. What happens the senior game if the ref gets injured in the reserve game and is unable to do the second game? Also Dungiven vs Ballinderry seriously delayed yesterday as no ref turned up for the senior game.

Does anyone know what is going on?

Until the guldering GAA culture changes, there will be less and less referees. I've been guilty of it myself on occasion. Mob culture at matches, off field abuse even. Who would want the hassle? GAA needs to adopt a Rugby model and introduce some proper rules and respect regarding the position. Paying lip service is not enough.

[oakleaflad]

Maybe just me but I have noticed a bit more respect for referees over this past year or so than there used to be.
Maybe there is an awareness that there are less and less available and people aren't exactly queuing up to do it. 

[marty34]

I think the refereeing situation in the county needs addressed. Most weeks we are seeing referees do reserve and senior games. What happens the senior game if the ref gets injured in the reserve game and is unable to do the second game? Also Dungiven vs Ballinderry seriously delayed yesterday as no ref turned up for the senior game.

Does anyone know what is going on?

Until the guldering GAA culture changes, there will be less and less referees. I've been guilty of it myself on occasion. Mob culture at matches, off field abuse even. Who would want the hassle? GAA needs to adopt a Rugby model and introduce some proper rules and respect regarding the position. Paying lip service is not enough.

This is what Jarlath's legacy should have been  - pick disclipline and make it his legacy.

Sort out refereeing and lads appealing, appealing and appealing red cards etc. Sort out a group for inter-county games and review games every Monday morning. Plenty of tv angles now so anything not picked up at the time, nail the player on it. End of. No come back. 

There will be no referees in a few years and everyone will look at each other and say 'what happened'?

[GTP]

I don't see referees getting abuse at games that I have been at so not sure it is the problem. I'd say people don't have time, if you are involved in the GAA you will maybe be playing, coaching, taking your children to training and trying to fit that in round everything else, you aren't going to prioritise an under 16 Division 3 match over those. We all know we need refs to keep the game going but probably hope someone else will solve the problem.
Ronan Rocks did a bit on Derry Gaels podcast encouraging people to take up the whistle. Saw him in a few underage games and he was good.

[Ryan O]

There are a few good young referees in Derry but I just don't see them ever getting the better games to keep them interested.

Come the business end of the Championship it'll be the same faces getting big 1/4 finals, semi finals and the final.
I think the younger ones get slightly more respect, but I agree abuse level has definitely went down.

Personally don't think someone shouting as they disagree with a decision is abuse, when its personalised thats a different story.

[JB3456]

a draw on sunday would be ideal, as they go to a replay now , giving armagh only 1 week for our game

[Wildweasel74]

I classify it abuse, if its steady arguing with every call against you. 60% of the crowd dont know the new rule changes, yeah refs do make some strange decisions but i see supporters slabbering even over the most obvious fouls, but the biggest problem in Derry comes from team management. Who is the manager. None are identifiable? How many are allowed up and down the line. Kilrea got 3, Swatragh 4, Lavey 5, Limavady 4  Dungiven 4, plus the physio. players not playing in plain clothes inside the wire.All need be outside the wire, outside manager, 1 assistant, physio and kitted out players.

[marty34]

Course its abuse, 60% of the crowd dont know the new rule changes, yeah refs do make some strange decisions but i see supporters slabbering even over the most obvious fouls, but the biggest problem in Derry comes from team management. Who is the manager. None are identifiable? How many are allowed up and down the line. Kilrea got 3, Swatragh 4, Lavey 5, Limavady 4  Dungiven 4, plus the physio. players not playing in plain clothes inside the wire.All need be outside the wire, outside manager, 1 assistant,physio and kitted out players.

I was at an undescript underage match last year and one team was up by, I guess by 20+ pts, with bout 5mins left. But a supporter of the team that was winning was giving the referee serious guff over 50/50 frees. It was mad stuff.

I don't shout at referees any more. As you get older, you realise that there's no point. What is the point?

Lavey must have the biggest bench ever but yet they can't field a reserve team. What's that about? Some other clubs not fielding either.  Maybe reserves are a thing of the past and there's less players playing nowaday?

[Ryan O]

I classify it abuse, if its steady arguing with every call against you. 60% of the crowd dont know the new rule changes, yeah refs do make some strange decisions but i see supporters slabbering even over the most obvious fouls, but the biggest problem in Derry comes from team management. Who is the manager. None are identifiable? How many are allowed up and down the line. Kilrea got 3, Swatragh 4, Lavey 5, Limavady 4  Dungiven 4, plus the physio. players not playing in plain clothes inside the wire.All need be outside the wire, outside manager, 1 assistant, physio and kitted out players.

That is a definite issue I agree, if you aren't on team sheet with a number or have a bib with clearly identified position you should be outside the wire.

An impossible rule to enforce but if could keep management between the 45s it would help.


Wait to you play Ballinderry, they have a member of management team who thinks he's Jason Sherlock type waterboy and spends his time running through the field.

[Wildweasel74]

See him do that the other week minus the water lol,