McGill: Referees unfazed by any pre-match efforts to influence them

Referees are above and beyond any pre-match attempts by managers or selectors to influence them, according to Feargal McGill, the GAA’s director of games administration and player welfare.

Brian Cuthbert, Ronan McCarthy, Jason Ryan and Paul Grimley all made comments prior to last weekend’s games, which could easily be interpreted as efforts to influence match officials.

McGill is more than confident managers’ remarks about the behaviour of opposing teams and particular players falls on deaf ears with match officials.

“Our referees pay absolutely no heed to that. I can assure you that they don’t pay any attention to what is said.”

McGill has warned the introduction of the public clock for Championship games next year won’t end time-keeping flashpoints.

Sunday saw Cork players approach referee Cormac Reilly following his final whistle after Colm O’Neill kicked over an injury-time free, believing, having spoken to Reilly, that there was still enough time remaining to score an equalising point.

The public clock/hooter, voted in at last year’s Congress, had been expected to be introduced this summer but was put back because of teething problems encountered in a trial in February’s Sigerson Cup final weekend.

The Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) were concerned how the clock might be used to waste time and proposed either all substitutes be made stoppages or those replacements made in the last five minutes.

Part of the report recommended by the CCCC, of which McGill is secretary, calls for full time only to be confirmed when the ball has gone out of play.

However, McGill would not be drawn on whether it should be implemented. “I can’t speak for what aspects of the report Central Council will go for or not go for,” he said.