Referee body move to defend Stapleton

THE National Referees Association has moved quickly to defend Laois whistler Anthony Stapleton, who dished out 12 yellow cards and one red during last Sunday’s All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final between Portumna and Loughmore-Castleiney.

Stapleton was heavily-criticised for his performance but it has emerged that the referee was not wired up to an umpire at each end of the ground and had to race behind the goals to consult directly with his officials.

National Referees Association spokesman Fr Seamus Gardiner explained: “Normally there is radio equipment provided and the referee is linked to one umpire at each end. But it appears that this equipment was not available in Limerick last Sunday.”