Tipp chief calls for introduction of video referees

TIPPERARY county board chairman Barry O’Brien has called for the introduction of video referees in next year’s championships.

O’Brien’s club Fr. Sheehy’s has put forward a motion to Monday’s Premier County annual convention calling for the appointment of two video referees, in both codes, for all provincial finals, All-Ireland quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.

If passed by delegates, the motion will go before the GAA’s motions committee for consideration and could appear on the official Clár for annual Congress in 2010.

In the immediate aftermath of last September’s All-Ireland SHC final defeat to Kilkenny, O’Brien raised the issue of video referees after champions Kilkenny were awarded a controversial late penalty.

He said: “One thing I want to put on the record is this; since I raised the idea of having video refs at provincial finals, All-Ireland quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals, it’s been said that I’m doing it out of sour grapes from Tipperary. If we’re all accused of making comments because of sour grapes, we will never make any progress.

“I have no complaints with the All-Ireland final, the better team won and we accepted defeat and moved on. As chairman of the Tipperary county board, I stated after the final that in the interests of helping the referee, we should be willing to give them the benefit of any technology and in that context, my club has proposed the motion to Convention.

“I’d also like to say that it’s important for everybody within the GAA to be willing to make changes for the benefit of the Association and to take it into modern times.

“We don’t want to find ourselves in a position in the future where the Association finds itself in a situation similar to FIFA following the Ireland-France World Cup playoff.

“When an incident occurs in a game that’s clearly wrong, there should be some way of writing the wrong because it leaves a sour taste in the mouths of sports people.”

Meanwhile Kerry’s Seán O’Sullivan has announced his retirement from inter-county football. The Cromane club man won four All-Ireland titles during his eight year career in the top flight with manager Jack O’Connor describing him as a “a great servant for Kerry over a long number of years.”

O’Connor said: “He was a very stylish operator. His best year was 2006 and when he cut loose in Croke Park it was a sight to behold,” O’Connor said. “Seán will always be remembered for that pass that he gave into Kieran Donaghy for the goal against Armagh in the All-Ireland quarter-final. That diagonal ball was the in-thing at the time. He was a great fella to deal with and never gave a moment’s trouble. He had great style, great pace and was a tremendous kicker off both feet.”

Former Kerry team-mate Kieran Donaghy compared O’Sullivan to Colm Gooch Cooper.

Donaghy said: “He has been a great player for Kerry and I would say that he is probably one of the most naturally gifted footballers ever to play in the green and gold. His skill level is almost on par with the Gooch. He is just an excellent footballer and he will be a huge loss to the panel.”