Time to move on for GAA’s friends with benefits

In the furore over Hawk-Eye, it is extremely important people don’t miss the really crucial ‘point’: Hawk-Eye is not the problem. Umpires are.

When I was growing up, men could demonstrate their vintage by recalling the days the “bishop threw the ball in”.

But what will we tell the next generation? How will we demonstrate the length of time we have been watching the game? I already have a fair idea. In the not too distant future, we will say to our children: ‘I remember the time when the referee would bring four of his friends to a game and they would act as umpires.’ And our children will look at us with big, disbelieving eyes and ask: ‘Was that just for club games, daddy?’. ‘No,’ we’ll reply to their utter astonishment. ‘It was for county games, provincial finals, All-Ireland finals — the lot.’