Former referee Collins brings concerns to Congress

Former inter-county referee Paddy Collins hopes to bring several motions to Congress next month concerning illegitimate practices in matches.

As 2015 is a playing rules year, clubs are permitted to put forward proposals. The four-time All-Ireland SFC final referee, via his club St Loman’s in Mullingar, was successful in having a number of recommendations passed by the Westmeath County Board last month. They are being assessed by the motions committee ahead of the GAA’s gathering in Cavan’s Slieve Russell Hotel next month.

Collins is calling for a distinction be made to the hand-pass in Gaelic football: that there must be “no propulsion of the ball by the non-striking hand during the execution of the pass”.