Future of Murphy Cup secure, says Kelly

GAA President Sean Kelly is adamant that the future of the controversial Tommy Murphy Cup is secure.

Mr Kelly was responding to questions about the difficulties being encountered by some counties in fulfilling fixtures in the Cup, one of the new competitions he spearheaded after arriving in office two years ago.

Carlow withdrew from this year's competition, as did Tipperary last year. Wexford County Board are angered that their domestic campaign is in chaos due to a fixture for the Model men this weekend.

Mr Kelly feels that counties attempting to fast-track their domestic championships could overcome problems by playing subsidiary inter-county games under lights.

"There's no reason why these games can't be played on Friday nights in future and let them play their club championships at the weekend,'' he commented. Mr. Kelly said he remained to be convinced that the extra inter-county competitions were having a serious impact on club activity, saying: "I haven't heard that much criticism. Maybe one or two counties haven't legislated for it.''

Acknowledging that Wexford were committed to the Tommy Murphy Cup, he pointed out that they had looked for a different date for their game with Fermanagh but that the GAC weren't able to facilitate them. "But Wexford are a dual county and I can see their difficulties,'' he added.

Taking an overall view, he said he suspected that counties which weren't used to still being involved in inter-county competition at this time of the year hadn't adapted to changing circumstances.

"The Tommy Murphy Cup is a knock-out competition for a start, so it's going to impact on very few counties. But, maybe we would want to look at running it similar to the Christy Ring and Nicky Rackard Cups. We could allow only so many counties into it who are interested in playing. And they mightn't play at all in the qualifiers. That's a live option.

"Rather than say counties have to play, we'd say that only so many can take part. Maybe that might make a better job of it."

Meanwhile, Wexford official Dickie Murphy admits that referees should turn professional.

In light of recent controversies Murphy believes it may be time for change. "I certainly wouldn't mind being a professional referee," he told Newstalk 106FM.

But he did admit: "there's such a problem with players getting paid that the last thing they'd probably want to see is referees getting paid. I'd be in favour of a panel of 10 or 12 referees in hurling or football who referee all the games during the summer.

"They would go up and down if they have a bad day they step down for a few weeks. I wouldn't mind being a professional referee but it's probably a good few years away yet.

"The pressure on referees is getting bigger and bigger. The referee has to go out every Sunday and have a good game every day."

But he said that he would be in favour of the new disciplinary procedures.

"The president brought in this new committee for counties who felt aggrieved they were going to the High Court this time last year. So it's not a case of referees being sore about this. But players who were caught on camera should find it very hard to get out of this."

Murphy also believes the GAA should allow referees to defend themselves in the media after games.

"Some referees can speak very well and others can find it more difficult. I certainly wouldn't mind speaking to reporters after games but I suppose rules are there and we have to abide by those."