Controversial Tipp president Barrett blasts ref Kelly

TIPPERARY County Board President Tommy Barrett has slammed referee Barry Kelly for his handling of last Sunday’s Munster SHC quarter-final against Cork and claimed that he has “never liked” the Westmeath official.

Tipp were defeated by 10 points on Leeside and the fallout is continuing in the Premier County as the squad met last night to pick through what went wrong at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Former long-serving secretary Barrett has already had his say, labelling modern day players as “clones” while also calling for a return to “back to basics” hurling.

And on local radio station Tipp FM on Monday evening, Barrett insisted that Kelly was not the right man to take charge of last Sunday’s game.

Barrett seemed set to question the hurling tradition of Westmeath before stopping short, but he said: “I didn’t like the referee, first of all, I never liked him.

“He’s coming from a county that... when Cork are playing Tipp, it’s always a massive game, a strong game, a hard game.

“You must have a good, strong referee. He pulled Paul Curran for handpassing the ball (in the first half); he let Cork go four times before that.”

Barrett also questioned Kelly’s decision to award Cork a penalty in the 13th minute and claimed that a free out should have been given for barging by Aisake O hAilpín.

Barrett told the Extra Time sports show: “The first goal, the penalty, he (O hAilpín) barged with that ball in his hand.

“Pádraic Maher held out his hands and let him challenge him.

“He (Maher) never fouled him. He barged in and got his free.”

Barrett added: “Seamus Callanan was pulled in the first half for barging. He got the ball in his hand; there was a man in his way, he hit him a shot and there was a free out.

“But there was no free when Cork got their penalty and scored the first goal.”

Barrett also expressed his disgust as a minute’s silence before the game was interrupted by both terraces.

He said: “It was bad. I was disgusted listening to them and there were Tipperary people at it.”

Barrett also backed Tipperary to bounce back from a crushing defeat and said: “Nobody died on the day. It wasn’t that bad.

“But we must get back to the basics of hurling – marking your man, staying with him all of the time, challenge every ball with him. He wins, he plays it. You win, you play it. That’s it. But we weren’t marking at all, either in the intermediate match or the senior game. If you notice, Cork handpassed the ball back to their man and he cleared it way up the field.”

Barrett added: “They (Tipp) are a young team. They will be back. Five of them are U21 and four or five of them are only over 21. We have a proud tradition; we won’t sink under one loss.”