Consistency takes backseat come August

Ah, August. That time of the year when referees are that bit slower to reach for the whistle and shy away from making the big calls.

Mere conspiracy-thinking, you say? May we point you in the direction of the black card caveat that had applied to All-Ireland football finals before it was realised it contradicted the existing match-based ban.

Endorsed by referees chief Pat McEnaney, the Football Review Committee proposed the measure that there would be an amnesty on one-match cumulative suspensions for three black cards or three double yellow cards for the final.