New blood keeps refs at top of their game

Jim O’Sullivan

So far, three referees in football and two in hurling have handled their first provincial finals and Joe McQuillan from Cavan will reach that milestone in Croke Park on Sunday when he takes charge of the Leinster SFC decider.

McQuillan has progressed fairly rapidly.

On the few occasions I saw him officiate at matches I was greatly impressed.

Clearly, he has made a good impression at official level, because his appointment follows his selection earlier in the year as "the most improved" young referee in football.

This season, his appointments have included the All-Ireland club semi-final between Ballina Stephenites and Kilmurray-Ibrickane, and the drawn Ulster championship game between Armagh and Donegal.

Frank Burke from Galway, who is the chairman of the National Referees Committee, says that the progress of McQuillan, Dave Coldrick (who handled the Munster final last week) and the likes of Seamus Roche in hurling has come about because of their policy to encourage the introduction of young referees.

"At this point, some of them are moving along to the higher tier,'' he said.

"As a body, we are pleased with progress so far. We had to broaden the base.

"Apart from established referees giving up, we now have an expanded championship progress, so the need for suitably qualified referees is far greater.''

Mr Burke said the committee has been operating an intensive programme of seminars with referees, where various issues are dealt with and controversial decisions are examined.

And, to date they have had eight seminars for umpires an area which has been neglected in the past.

"This year, the performances of umpires has been much improved,'' he added.