Ref chief defends controversial free decision

REFEREES’ spokesman Fr Seamus Gardiner yesterday clarified the decision to penalise Cork ’keeper Dónal Óg Cusack at the end of Sunday’s epic All-Ireland quarter-final clash with Waterford.

The decision attracted criticism from the Cork camp on the grounds that similar infringements earlier in the game had not been punished with frees but had resulted in throw-ins, while some observers asked why a penalty wasn’t awarded to Waterford if Cusack was guilty of an infringement in the square.

As Fr Gardiner pointed out yesterday, the foul was technical rather than aggressive.

“It was a technical foul, a foul on the ball,” said Gardiner.

“Hurling is different to football, where a foul in the square is always a penalty, but a technical foul in the square in hurling is not a penalty. In hurling it has to be a foul on the person, an aggressive foul, for a penalty to be awarded.”

Gardiner added that he had been in contact with match referee Brian Gavin to confirm exactly why a free had been awarded at the end of the game. “I was speaking to Brian Gavin because someone had asked if Dónal Óg had picked the ball up off the ground,” said Gardiner, “But Brian said he didn’t see that — he blew up for the player lying on the ball.

“The second question I asked Brian was whether he had consulted his umpires before making his decision. A referee doesn’t have to do that, but Brian said he had consulted one of his umpires about the matter, who confirmed his view.”

Acknowledging that consistency in enforcing the rules is one of the big challenges in GAA refereeing, Gardiner pointed out achieving such consistency is a recurring issue at refereeing seminars. He also added that many members of the GAA are not familiar with the playing rules.

“Many people aren’t aware of the rules. For instance, if someone jumps up and down waving a hurley in front of a free-taker, that’s a foul, but you don’t see it blown that often either. Another technical one is lifting the ball off the ground with your knees, but many people don’t know that either.”