GAA attempts to halt abuse against refs

GAA PRESIDENT Sean Kelly has called for a more responsible approach to referees by team officials and the public to stem the rising tide of abuse at games.

It’s a culture that has been tolerated for too long, he said here last night after presenting Vodafone GAA Referee awards to Pat McEnaney from Monaghan and Aodan MacSuibhne from Dublin.

The respective officials in charge of last season’s All-Ireland finals (the fourth for McEnaney, MacSuibhne’s second) were honoured in the presence of their wives, Rosemary and Aine. Making the presentation, Vodafone director of communications Tara Delaney said that referees matched the dedication and commitment of players and coaches in an extraordinary way.