Down chiefs cry foul over ‘ignored’ referees

DOWN GAA chiefs have claimed that their referees “have been seemingly ignored” by Croke Park bosses.

Secretary Sean Óg McAteer expressed disappointment and annoyance that whistleblowers from the Mourne County aren’t receiving national recognition.

He said: “I have been disappointed that our referees have been seemingly ignored in appointments at national level and this is an issue I will be pursuing with administrators in 2010. We have referees who have done everything asked of them in terms of courses and assessments and yet they don’t get appointments. This is an area that we in the County Office will be monitoring this year. I ask clubs to continue to support the recruitment of referees within the county and I hope that we will continue to produce quality officials.”