Using inter-county refs as umpires an option, says coach chief

INTER-COUNTY referees who haven’t been chosen for championship matches should be utilised as umpires, Liam O’Neill, National Coaching and Games Development chairman, said.

As things stand, referees are allowed a free rein to choose their four umpires for any given fixture, including All-Ireland and provincial finals, but such a ‘process’ has long been criticised as far too arbitrary.

The whole concept concerning who is an umpire and what he should be responsible for has come under the spotlight again after referee Martin Sludden allowed Joe Sheridan’s goal to stand for Meath against Louth in the recent Leinster football final.