Former refs’ chief Freaney blasts ‘cheap shot’ at Kelly

ALL-IRELAND SHC FINAL:

O’Connor expressed fear Westmeath referee Kelly would spoil Sunday’s decider by imposing himself too much on the action.

Regard for Kelly among Kilkenny hurling folk waned significantly after he sent off Henry Shefflin in last year’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Cork, a decision which was overturned on appeal.

“I’d expect a savage battle all over the field. If you look at both teams, there are huge match-ups and the fear I have is Barry Kelly might want to be more important than the players,” O’Connor told the Irish Examiner this week. “It’s a man’s game and I hope Barry Kelly has a bit of common sense and leaves the game run.”

Freaney, who serves as recruitment and training officer on the Leinster referees’ committee, was disappointed by O’Connor’s outburst, believing “the week before the All-Ireland isn’t the time to be making such comments”.

“It is not fair to be putting pressure on players and referees, saying that they are going to have do this or do the other,” Freaney insisted.

“I suppose there is a perception in Kilkenny, and I am a Kilkenny man, that they were hard done by in the quarter-final last year against Cork, with regard to Henry’s sending off. Maybe, in hindsight, it wasn’t one of Barry’s best decisions. You have to get over it. Players miss frees, they drive balls wide, they let in goals. You get over it. You just move on.

“I think [Eddie’s comments] were a cheap shot. I have the utmost faith in Barry Kelly, an excellent referee. Barry has made mistakes and he would admit that, just the same as all those involved in sport make mistakes.

“Knowing Barry, he would smile at the comments. All the top referees wouldn’t pay heed or be influenced by such criticism. They are getting all classes of abuse and they just blot it out completely. Barry is one of those referees who goes out with a clean slate for every game. He leaves the past in the past, as should everyone else.”

Former Tipperary hurler Colm Bonnar says there is an overemphasis on the selection of match officials, expressing confidence the experienced Kelly will not stifle Sunday’s decider.

“[Eddie’s comments] will be water off a duck’s back, as far as Barry is concerned. Barry has his style of refereeing, he will be out to do his best and the majority of calls, he does get right,” asserted Bonnar.

“If it is a tight game, one or two wrong calls can lead to players getting frustrated. I think there’s an overemphasis on the referee. Barry generally makes the right calls and will allow the game to flow.

“From a Tipperary viewpoint, there is no qualms with the decision of the referee. For the management and the way they prepare, they are concerned only with the controllables. They will suss him out after one or two tackles to see what is he blowing for and what is he willing to let go, to see what he is going to nitpick for and they’ll adjust accordingly. Teams talk about controllables and the referee is out of their radar. I don’t see the referee as being an issue on Sunday.”

With three of the Kilkenny rearguard north of 30 — Tyrell (32), Delaney (32) and Hogan (33) — Bonnar is adamant Eamon O’Shea’s outfit must seek to exploit the opposition’s age.

“Some of their players have been on the road for a good number of years. Their ability to keep working hard and keeping having that same drive and enthusiasm... it is very hard to keep that going. Jackie Tyrell, Brian Hogan and JJ Delaney are not getting any younger. Tipperary have a younger team and these young bodies will attempt to exploit the older members of the Kilkenny defence. The younger Tipperary lads who first came on the scene in 2009 have really come good this season. When you look at the age-profile of Kilkenny, you would say this is a team with high-mileage that Tipperary could exploit.”

He added: “Kilkenny are coming back down to everyone else’s level. Last year, we saw Dublin and Cork take them. Even this year’s league final was decided by a free Tipperary had, had they opted to go short, and it didn’t work out. Tipperary have the momentum and confidence on this occasion. They need to get one over on Kilkenny and I think they will.”