Ulster Championship 2025

[AustinPowers]

I thought he was at the inner D when he kicked it? As he didn't appeal at all.

There's no appeals accept it or give away a possible 2 points, Gough showed yesterday refs now have been given carte blance in matches without fear of anyone on or off the field questioning them, he has some abysmal calls yesterday no doubt get an All Ireland though, shocking they are now King makers.

Yes, I agree. Some of his decisions were  absolutely baffling yesterday.  Must be so frustrating for  players, and they  dare not question his decision for fear  of a card or free moved up.

I mean, a manager  remonstrating on the line , means  a free in front of the posts. Absolute nonsense.

Wouldn't be surprised , if I get  a knock on the door shortly, and  David Gough is stood there, in full kit , showing me a yellow card . That's how mad  these rules have  become.

[Milltown Row2]

Ref's have made mistakes, not a ref out there that thinks any different, but remonstrating like a header comes with it a penalty so why do it?

No one should be allowed to give abuse, I'm not sure what difference it actually did, born outta frustration I get, but channeling it differently is required now

[Armagh18]

Having now watched the game back my thoughts are that it was a good game between two very good teams neither of whom were at a 100%.

Armagh the better team overall and fully deserving of the win.

Tyrone though maybe the side with more room for improvement. Wouldn't like the two sides to meet again.

Some shocking and inconsistent decisions from Gough who had one of his poorest games that I've ever seen from him. Thankfully didn't affect the result.

On the Rafferty thing it's one of the strangest things I've seen in some time. Looking back it looks like he dives between the ball and the goal as if to make a save as Canavan comes on the ball. It seems Canavan gets there, pokes it towards goal and it comes off Rafferty's chest. As I think Wobbler said it looks like a foul but I'm not sure why.

The Morgan yellow card was equally strange. Having had a quick look at the official guide it seems the penalty for dissent is a yellow card and not a free which is strange. That said I can't see how he can stop the game and then allow Tyrone to restart with a free kick. Also the 10 seconds before that show how inconsistent Gough was. Morgan takes possibly the most steps taken all day. If the steps rule had been consistently enforced it would have been a penalty to Armagh.

The incident that lead to Geezers frustration was also clearly a brain fart by Gough. (That's not to excuse Geezer). Armagh player takes a mark. Is tackled two steps later and is blown for over carrying on the 5th step. How that wasn't given as a 50m advancement of the free to Armagh is beyond me. The only explanation seems to be that Gough forgot it was a mark because he had properly enforced the rule a few minutes earlier. Big decision too as it goes from a simple free to Armagh to a two point score for Tyrone.

It also looks like Soupys heel is on the line when he kicks the penultimate score but it was so close I'm not sure I can criticise Gough for that.

The final free was stonewall. Harte charges straight into Turbitt.

On the Armagh players I thought Rafferty had an excellent game but Tyrone coped well with him.

I thought Mossey and Burns had very good games.

McCambridge was off his usual high standards but his man was in top form to be fair.

McCabe and McQuillan did well.

Murnin was excellent as always as was Grugan and Crealey

I thought both O'Neills started well but faded.

I thought Jarly Og had a very poor half and was lucky not to be pulled at half time but had a very good second half.

Thought McGrane did rightly in an unfamiliar role.

Conaty was a little off his high standards too

McMullan is a frustrating player to watch. Pace to burn but seems to do the difficult thing well but isn't as good at the easy stuff.

I said it on another thread that I don't think Armagh will win the all Ireland this year but they may go close if the missing players return. Although they do have great strength in depth.

On the new rules, I still don't like any of them. That said they make for a better spectacle on TV and I dislike them less when watching on TV than I do when being there.

Thought Conaty and O'Neill were superb for us, Conaty had what 4 from play? O'Neill was super for a lad in his 3rd ever start. 

[flowerpot]

Ref's have made mistakes, not a ref out there that thinks any different, but remonstrating like a header comes with it a penalty so why do it?

No one should be allowed to give abuse, I'm not sure what difference it actually did, born outta frustration I get, but channeling it differently is required now

Nicely summed up with refs have no accountability get over it.

[barelegs]

From a Tyrone prospective it's very disappointing to lose a game that they were in a position to win with 3-4 minutes to go. Decision making down the stretch cost them and not for the first time this year. Threw points away in Mayo and Galway and a lead against Kerry in the league with 5 minutes to go. That'll come with putting themselves in those positions.

But overall that's the first time in 4 years they've got near a game of that intensity and not looked out of place. And to be honest 2, maybe 3 players got near their potential. Malachy will have learnt a lot yesterday.

The trajectory is pointing the right way and McElholm's cameo was about as good as I've seen from a young player for Tyrone in a long long time.

On Armagh their kickouts allowed them to control the game in a way Tyrone couldn't. Notably very few went over the half way line. Tyrone in contrast couldn't get any sort of control. Armagh are the best coach team in Ireland by a distance at the moment and the last 3-4 minutes showed that.

From a Tyrone point of view I wouldn't have been too happy with Gough, and i haven't any complaints on the last free. He gave Armagh a mark in the first half that Callum O'Neill (I think) dropped and Kilpatrick won the break. Gough whistle happy as he was had the whistle blown too soon. Ball went over the bar 10 seconds later. The Rafferty incident was bizarre. Canavan was through on goal but a goalkeeper who couldn't receive the pass took him out.

The directive on steps was out on Thursday, teams knew what was coming. McKernan and Ruairi got pulled when Tyrone were threatening. It's frustrating for everyone.

Looking forward to the qualifier draw now and getting back on the horse. The summer is just starting.

[Armagh18]

I think if we're going to be strict on the steps rule, move it out to 6 and be strict with it.

How a man can catch a mark, be tackled almost immediately then be blown for too long, then the other team be given a shot in from of the net for 2 points because a manager dared question the almighty Gough I don't know.

[Armagh18]

On today, you'd imagine Donegal will win by whatever they want, can't see them going full throttle and showing their hand which will keep Down relatively competitive and they do have enough talent to cause harm. Donegal by 7.

[David McKeown]

Ref's have made mistakes, not a ref out there that thinks any different, but remonstrating like a header comes with it a penalty so why do it?

No one should be allowed to give abuse, I'm not sure what difference it actually did, born outta frustration I get, but channeling it differently is required now

Perfectly agree that Geezer was out of line yesterday and whilst I can understand the frustration because it followed an objectively unjustifiable decision you can't react like that. The issue I have is that reactions like that are largely heat of the moment things. Therefore a free from pretty much wherever the opposition wants one is a disproportionate punishment. It's not going to deter those things either because they are spontaneous. It also makes little to no sense. Player does it yesterday and it's a free to their team and a yellow card. Manager does it and it's a yellow card and a free to the opposition from wherever they want. That doesn't make sense to me.

[Milltown Row2]

Ref's have made mistakes, not a ref out there that thinks any different, but remonstrating like a header comes with it a penalty so why do it?

No one should be allowed to give abuse, I'm not sure what difference it actually did, born outta frustration I get, but channeling it differently is required now

Nicely summed up with refs have no accountability get over it.

I've summoned it up many many times, but I can't teach stupid though..

Ref's are assessed every game and a report given to them, now either you're thick or just being a dick. Probably both

[Milltown Row2]

Ref's have made mistakes, not a ref out there that thinks any different, but remonstrating like a header comes with it a penalty so why do it?

No one should be allowed to give abuse, I'm not sure what difference it actually did, born outta frustration I get, but channeling it differently is required now

Perfectly agree that Geezer was out of line yesterday and whilst I can understand the frustration because it followed an objectively unjustifiable decision you can't react like that. The issue I have is that reactions like that are largely heat of the moment things. Therefore a free from pretty much wherever the opposition wants one is a disproportionate punishment. It's not going to deter those things either because they are spontaneous. It also makes little to no sense. Player does it yesterday and it's a free to their team and a yellow card. Manager does it and it's a yellow card and a free to the opposition from wherever they want. That doesn't make sense to me.

David I've been at every end of the GAA spectrum, I get it at so many levels but 'thems' the rules, it's ok to question them and by using your club as a medium to voice the dislike of them it's the only way that club/county delegates can actually make a change.

Personally it's lowered the times people give abuse. Which can't be a bad thing

[flowerpot]

Ref's have made mistakes, not a ref out there that thinks any different, but remonstrating like a header comes with it a penalty so why do it?

No one should be allowed to give abuse, I'm not sure what difference it actually did, born outta frustration I get, but channeling it differently is required now

Nicely summed up with refs have no accountability get over it.

I've summoned it up many many times, but I can't teach stupid though..

Ref's are assessed every game and a report given to them, now either you're thick or just being a dick. Probably both

Ah so refs can give abuse but they can't be questioned, you must ref Junior B. So when a decision is made that costs a team a victory the fact that that ref maybe assessed should be comfort enough? Sure keep up with the abuse, you're some pup.

[blewuporstuffed]

I think what most people are looking for is the one where 6/7/8 + steps are taken get called consistently. It's going to be very difficult to call in real time if a player played the ball on his 4th step or his 5th step.

[David McKeown]

Ref's have made mistakes, not a ref out there that thinks any different, but remonstrating like a header comes with it a penalty so why do it?

No one should be allowed to give abuse, I'm not sure what difference it actually did, born outta frustration I get, but channeling it differently is required now

Perfectly agree that Geezer was out of line yesterday and whilst I can understand the frustration because it followed an objectively unjustifiable decision you can't react like that. The issue I have is that reactions like that are largely heat of the moment things. Therefore a free from pretty much wherever the opposition wants one is a disproportionate punishment. It's not going to deter those things either because they are spontaneous. It also makes little to no sense. Player does it yesterday and it's a free to their team and a yellow card. Manager does it and it's a yellow card and a free to the opposition from wherever they want. That doesn't make sense to me.

David I've been at every end of the GAA spectrum, I get it at so many levels but 'thems' the rules, it's ok to question them and by using your club as a medium to voice the dislike of them it's the only way that club/county delegates can actually make a change.

Personally it's lowered the times people give abuse. Which can't be a bad thing

I think that's what I'm doing. I haven't refereed in years so I'll bow to your experience I just feel there are more fitting penalties for the crime.

[trileacman]

Ref's have made mistakes, not a ref out there that thinks any different, but remonstrating like a header comes with it a penalty so why do it?

No one should be allowed to give abuse, I'm not sure what difference it actually did, born outta frustration I get, but channeling it differently is required now

Nicely summed up with refs have no accountability get over it.

I've summoned it up many many times, but I can't teach stupid though..

Ref's are assessed every game and a report given to them, now either you're thick or just being a dick. Probably both

Ironic that your first reaction to be challenged on a message board is to be abusive yet players or managers involved in top level sport who throw up their hands, shout at the ref to say they've been fouled is a yellow card and 50m free.

[Milltown Row2]

Ref's have made mistakes, not a ref out there that thinks any different, but remonstrating like a header comes with it a penalty so why do it?

No one should be allowed to give abuse, I'm not sure what difference it actually did, born outta frustration I get, but channeling it differently is required now

Nicely summed up with refs have no accountability get over it.

I've summoned it up many many times, but I can't teach stupid though..

Ref's are assessed every game and a report given to them, now either you're thick or just being a dick. Probably both

Ah so refs can give abuse but they can't be questioned, you must ref Junior B. So when a decision is made that costs a team a victory the fact that that ref maybe assessed should be comfort enough? Sure keep up with the abuse, you're some pup.

So where did the ref give abuse? The ref will react to dissent or remonstration and give a card and the appropriate rule.

If he's wrong he'll get pulled for it at his assessment which is the par at each county game. Ref's I've said make mistakes, I'm not sure what sorts of punishments you are looking, it's not like we have an endless pool of referees, but if you're not stupid you'll know that.

If you wanna keep up with the stupid posts I'll keep at it..