Referee chief McEnaney: Frank Murphy should know better

Pat McEnaney says he feels let down by Cork secretary Frank Murphy’s criticism of inter-county football referees.

Former inter-county referee Murphy hit out last week at the performances of match officials, sentiments which were echoed by ex-Cork referee administrator John Motherway at Sunday’s county convention.

Murphy said: “Some of the refereeing in inter-county senior football during the past season has been far from satisfactory, and some refereeing performances have had an undue influence on the outcome of games.

“Concern has been expressed, too, at some experienced officials making decisions inconsistent with the playing rules. If referees are to be instructed, it should be personnel who are qualified and experienced in this specialist field. No-one is entitled to place interpretation on rule other than Central Council. Any deviation should be strictly prohibited.”

However, national referees’ chief McEnaney took exception to Murphy’s remarks: “It’s fair to say that disappoints me, in the sense that you think Frank would know what’s happening on the ground, but the opposite is the case.

“The standard of football refereeing that’s available at the moment is much stronger than it is in hurling. I’m surprised that Frank has that opinion considering his knowledge of the game.”

McEnaney has come in for criticism about his lack of a hurling background in making key decisions in how the game should be officiated. Ger Loughnane last year said he should have nothing to do with hurling while others have accused him of over-sanitisation.

The Monaghan man is satisfied the game of hurling has been cleaned up to an extent after Kilkenny’s Michael Rice and TJ Reid suffered serious injuries two years ago.

“It’s fair to say three years ago we had a couple of nasty injuries, a couple of Kilkenny players picked up six-month injuries. There was a bit of pain involved, but I think if people reflect on these past three years in hurling, both the National Leagues and Championships, therein lies the answer and it’s not about Pat McEnaney.

“Hurling is a highly skilful game that needs to be protected and, while some people find it difficult to implement and apply the rules, they are particularly important to hurling, because we’re talking about a game where you play with a stick and players wear helmets. Discipline has to be right.

“I’ve five boys and there’s a good cop and a bad cop in our house. I’m the good cop all of the time, but when the boys are sick or they need some care or attention, it’s their mother they look for. Maybe in hurling, I’m a bit of a bad cop.”

Before he wraps up at the end of February, McEnaney has a number of engagements, such as orchestrating a nationwide refresher course on black cards.

“We’re quite happy with body-checking, not happy with the deliberate pull-down. We haven’t got it where we needed to with that. We missed a few at the top level and that has been reflected at club level.”

Tomorrow, his group launch a national referees recruitment drive. He doesn’t believe many have been put off the idea of refereeing by the criticism of Cormac Reilly and Barry Kelly towards the end of this year’s championships. Reilly’s display in Kerry’s All-Ireland semi-final replay win over Mayo was lambasted, while Brian Cody described Kelly’s decision to award Tipperary a later free in their drawn final as “criminal”.

McEnaney insisted: “We’ve had it before. People think it didn’t happen four or five years ago — it did happen. The Brian Cody thing is water under the bridge, but from where I see it that kind of abuse is unacceptable. This thing about some manager making a comment before an All-Ireland final or semi-final — that was going on in my time. While it’s disappointing, it’s not new.”

New measures next year will seek to punish comments like Cody’s with a withdrawal of sideline privileges. McEnaney says the regulation will work only if the relevant disciplinary committees apply it appropriately.

“It depends how we manage discipline. It’s not something we’re brilliant at. There are too many appeals won, too many decisions overturned. It takes place at county and club level and we have a bit of a malice in us about refusing to accept our punishment.

“Everything works if you implement it right, if you carry it through. If there’s a weakness or lack of wherewithal to carry it through to the end, then you’re going to have a problem.”