John Fogarty: Slogans only go so far, action is needed to protect refs

Coming to the aid of referees has rarely been fashionable in Gaelic games. If it was, they wouldn’t be such an endangered species

PUSHED: Mayo referee Jerome Henry said he was pushed and shoved after a Connacht club game. Pic: Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile

If what happened in Ballyforan last Wednesday achieves one thing, it is hoped that a critical mass of attacks on referees has been reached so that the GAA finally do something meaningful to counter the malaise.

“Give Respect, Get Respect”, says the GAA’s awarnesss campaign. But top level national officials personally chastising those who fire verbals at match officials and the quite frankly measly investment in the retention and recruitment of referees can and has only gone so far.