Inter-county ref shortfall forces GAA into recruitment drive

The GAA will undertake a recruitment drive to increase the number of inter-county hurling referees.

In recent years, the inter-county panel has been reduced with Michael Wadding, Anthony Stapleton and Diarmuid Kirwan leaving. For the 2014 championship season, eight referees were on the main panel with four more being used for the round-robin section of the Leinster SHC.

A recent Central Council meeting discussed the issue and moves will be made to fast-track referees at that level to take charge of inter-county games.

“When the pool of referees is being reduced,” said Cork’s Central Council delegate Des Cullinane, “it means if there’s a certain series of results then there are very few to take charge.

“For the All-Ireland semi-final between Cork and Tipperary, for example, you had three of the eight refs – Colm Lyons, Cathal McAllister and Johnny Ryan – all ruled out because they are from those counties so the options are limited straight away.

“Then, if one of the other referees is sick or injured, you’re hampered even further so it’s important this is dealt with. I think there was an acceptance the panel had become too small, and that’s not in any way a criticism of the existing refs. It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy if that’s the case, though – how do you know a referee is good enough to do big games unless he’s given them?”

To that end, work will be undertaken to ensure the pool is widened over the winter.

“The National Referees’ Committee and the Central Referees Appointments Committee will work together and embark on refereeing education,” Cullinane said.

“They won’t be picking out raw recruits, obviously, but they will talent-spot to try to find the best candidates and then bring them along. It’s something that will happen over the winter and it’s probably something which will be discussed further at the next Central Council meeting in November. It’s not an urgent issue but it will at least get off the ground.”

At the same Central Council meeting, the report of a survey regarding the minor hurling and football championships was discussed but there is no great appetite to change the age of the grade from U18. However it will be discussed in greater detail at the next meeting.