Officials face tougher job as players bulking up, says retired ref Murphy

Retired inter-county referee Dickie Murphy claims the increased physicality of hurlers has made officiating more difficult for referees.

As a result of the bigger players in the game, the Wexford whistler recognises hurling referees are now being scrutinised more.

Dublin manager Anthony Daly criticised Barry Kelly’s officiating of last Sunday’s Division 1A relegation play-off against Galway. However, he articulated a serious issue with officiating when he said: “It’s as if you’re seen as ruining it if you give frees.”

But Murphy maintains referees are still applying the rules in a game now played by bigger men.

“It’s difficult for referees because every hurler in the gym now is bulking up so things have got more physical,” said the Ballyboe man, who retired from inter-county duty in 2010. “It’s still the same game and the ball is there to be played but there’s more cut and thrust to games now. The way the league is structured has added to that. But because it’s got more physical you’ve got to to take control early on.

“If you don’t, it can come back to haunt you. It’s up to the referees to make sure everything is kept above board but it’s hard when players are bigger and stronger.”

As Dublin and Galway prepare to go head to head again this weekend, Murphy knows there will be an onus on referee John Sexton. Some managers have found referees to be stricter in their interpretation of the rule in the early stages of games. But Murphy says a zero tolerance approach at the start puts down a marker.

“That’s what I always tried to do. Be hard at the beginning and if after that they want to play ball and play it hard then let them.

“That’s how a lot of referees see it, but it’s up to players how they want it. If they’re willing to play hard within the rules they’ll be allowed.”

Murphy believes the time of the year as well as the cut-throat nature of Division 1A must be taken into context when judging referees’ performances.

“Games are more frantic but teams aren’t as fit because of the heavy training at this time of year so they maybe rely more on the physical stuff.

“If you blow for every foul, you’re condemned because there’s no continuity and it’s stop-start. But there’s a risk to it because if you let too much go and it gets out of hand you can’t put it back.

“Games like last Sunday when the loser loses all are difficult to referee. Nobody wants to go down to Division 1B. In that sense, the new system has been a tremendous success.”