Éamonn Fitzmaurce: Are referees inadvertently helping mass defences?

When players are looking in to see if there is a ball on inside the ref is coming in their eye line. He is almost like another sweeper

Ducking the issues? Jack Barry of Kerry in action against Iain Corbett of Limerick handpasses the ball over referee Martin McNally during the Munster GAA Football Senior Championship Final match between Kerry and Limerick at Fitzgerald Stadium in Killarney. Pic: Diarmuid Greene/Sportsfile

With knockout championship re-entering the fray this weekend the stakes and interest levels naturally take a jump. The Tailteann Cup quarter finals, with the novelty of New York playing on Irish soil for the first time in over 20 years is going to be very interesting. The benefits of teams of a similar level playing against each other is again being emphasised. 

Rather than being cannon fodder for a Division 1 team aiming to rehabilitate through the qualifiers these sides have a realistic target and can win silverware. I will be surprised if Offaly, Westmeath and Cavan are not in the draw on Monday morning.