Refs willing to instruct players

Referees will make themselves available to managers and players prior to this weekend’s hurling championship games should they wish to be briefed further on the new rule interpretation for penalties and frees.

Match officials have been instructed to, if requested, talk to the competing teams before throw-in should they have any queries about the guideline, which insists penalties and 20 metre frees must be struck on or before the 20m line and all other frees be struck on or before where they were awarded. It is an attempt by the National Referees Committee to ensure there is no further confusion after a misinterpretation of the rule allowed Waterford’s Stephen O’Keeffe last Sunday to leave his line to block Anthony Nash as soon as the goalkeeper had lifted the ball for his penalty.

Some referees are already known to make themselves available to speak to management teams prior to games.

Clare and Tipperary have revealed they attempt to speak to the men in black.

“Every county official has been advised,” said national referees committee chairman Pat McEnaney. “It’s our job to implement it now. If a team or team manager wants the referees to explain we will always facilitate.”

It remains to be seen if Cork will persist with Nash taking penalties and 20m frees now that he is prohibited from taking them past the 20m line.

Meanwhile, a bookmaking company are set to pay Armagh’s proposed €5,000 fine for their involvement in last Sunday’s pre-match parade fracas with Cavan.

In a press release yesterday, the bookmakers quote an unnamed county official thanking them for paying the sum.

The county intend seeking a meeting with the Central Hearings Committee regarding the recommended one-match bans for Andy Mallon, Brendan Donaghy and Kieran Toner.

Cavan are considering accepting the fine and proposed one-match suspensions for Martin Dunne and Fergal Flanagan.