Cooney: no referee change on handpass

GAA PRESIDENT Christy Cooney yesterday rejected the suggestion that referees have begun to take a more lenient stance over the controversial handpass rule.

The opening two weekends of the football championship were badly blighted by the new regulation which dictates that players may only play the ball with a closed fist or with an open hand motion provided it “involves a definite underhand motion”.

However, Pat McEnaney took what was agreed to be a more common sense approach to the issue last Sunday week during the Tyrone-Antrim game and Joe McQuillan followed suit three days ago when Down and Donegal met in Ballybofey.

There were 35 minutes played when McQuillan blew for an illegal handpass and, with six senior football championship fixtures down for decision this weekend, it will be interesting to see how big a role the tighter strictures play. If any.

“This change in the handpass has been blown out of all proportion. The change in the handpass is so minimal that it is unbelievable. In the Down/Donegal game there was no major issue around the hand-pass situation. We have moved on.

“The rule is there, the change is there and we move on with it and we will make it happen.”

Monaghan manager Seamus McEnaney believes that the appointment of refs from within the province to officiate at Ulster championship matches in the last two weeks has been the reason for those games being devoid of controversy over the ruling. Laois whistler Maurice Deegan drew criticism for his handling of the Armagh and Derry tie on May 16, whereas McEnaney (Monaghan) and McQuillan (Cavan) were in charge the last two weekends and Tyrone official Martin Sludden is in the middle for next Sunday’s Ulster SFC tie between Armagh and Monaghan in Casement Park.

“The good thing is that the two referees you’re talking about who have refereed the last two championship matches are from Ulster and they know the way the thing goes.”

Cork make their championship debut under the new ruling next Sunday in Killarney with manager Conor Counihan still adamant that it remains ‘a very serious issue’ and he also believes that there is a lack of clarity over what is acceptable.

“It’s a very serious issue for everybody, players and referees. It’s an impossible situation. Can we get clarity on it? It doesn’t look great. Someone has to call the shots on this because the reality is you’ve 32 teams starting out in championship, guys training hard night and day, putting life on hold. With no disrespect to referees, they make a call at a particular time and it could cost you.

“I’m not laying fault on referees for that, I’m laying fault on the administration that is allowing elements of doubt to create in this. We’re preparing as best as we can in the context of using the closed fist. But a guy has his back to the referee and he’s handpassing the ball, and he’s probably doing it correctly but he’s not getting the benefit of the doubt. If a guy is making a genuine effort that should be good enough.”