McStay: Referees deciding big games

Former Mayo star Kevin McStay is fearful “too many referees are deciding who wins the big matches.”

Speaking at a pre All-Ireland final discussion night ahead of Mayo’s clash with Dublin, McStay expressed concerns over the pressures now on match officials on the biggest days of the season.

He highlighted controversial calls in the last two senior football finals, won by Dublin and Donegal, to back up his argument.

“The biggest problem for me in terms of referees is that too many referees are deciding who wins the big matches,” said McStay at Ballina Stephenites Up for the Match night on Saturday.

“I hope that’s through incompetence or a poor call. But there’s no doubt they’re deciding it.

“The 2011 final was decided that way with the Cluxton free.

“The very first Donegal goal last year was a free in to Mayo when Cillian O’Connor was fouled (but a free was not awarded). That was a four-point swing.

“The games we’ve seen in the All-Ireland series so far, there have been quite a few errors and the referee chosen for this week (Joe McQuillan), though a very competent referee, there’s so much going on to keep track of.”

McStay’s concerns over the standard of officiating were shared by panellists Liam McHale and Eamonn O’Hara.

McHale added: “That’s very tough on a player. You’ve discovered how to defend a certain way and then you’ve to change. It takes players’ aggression out of it.”

O’Hara claimed All-Ireland finals are refereed differently than the games earlier in the championship.

“The rules change from June and July to August. Due to criticism over time a referee might ease off but come All-Ireland final day I’ll be watching and thinking ‘these weren’t the rules from the start’.

“This is what frustrates you. You saw the hurling the last day,” he said.

McStay also believes officials are slow to show a red card on decider day. “Look at the hurling there was a fella nearly beheaded in the first few minutes. There’s a sense it spoils the game when there’s a million watching it and 82,000 there. You’d nearly want to murder someone to get sent off.”