Letters to the Editor: Hurling refereeing is at a low ebb

One reader responds to Brian Gavin's column about Tipperary and Waterford's recent Munster Championship match, while others consider issues from energy security to tonight's Darkness Into Light

Tipp goalkeeper Barry Hogan appealing to referee James Owens, not pictured, after Stephen Bennett scored Waterford's first goal from a penalty during their Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Round 3 match at Walsh Park on May 4. Picture Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

The standard of hurling refereeing has never been worse, and Brian Gavin was quite correct to highlight the fact (Irish Examiner May 5/6). Referee James Owens running across the goalmouth as the Waterford forward Stephen Bennett was just about to take a penalty had to be seen to be believed.

In all, Gavin highlighted no less than five serious refereeing incidents during this Tipperary v Waterford Munster Championship game which clearly indicated that the Wexford referee was clearly not up to the task in hand.