Murphy says too much focus on referees’ performance

Too much time is spent analysing the performance of referees, according to Ulster Council secretary Danny Murphy.

In his report to next Saturday’s Ulster convention, Murphy said increased commentary surrounding match officials has led to more and more refereeing decisions being unfairly questioned.

“The past year has witnessed the various commentaries of our games focus on the application of the playing rules. The impact of this is to be provocative and to challenge the rules or the perceived interpretation of the rules, or worse still the decision of the referee,” he said.

“The need (is there) for the Association to challenge this perception, as in a year when we had a truly competitive series of games we seem to spend too much time reviewing what the referee is doing rather than analysing the tactic being deployed.

“Should there be too much fouling then that is the responsibility of the team management and the players. There is a need to create a climate where the proper application of the rules are supported by all. These do require match officials, team management and players to know the rules and to respect everyone involved in the playing or control of our games.”

Murphy lamented the decreased number of All-Ireland football championship games televised by BBC in 2014 and described as “unsatisfactory” UTV’s role in the broadcasting of Gaelic Games.

“The level of television coverage in the past year was substantially improved for the association, but in Ulster there were problems at times. The TV coverage of our senior football championship has seen a substantial reduction of coverage by the BBC and our province has to be largely dependent on RTÉ.

“The position of UTV remains at an unsatisfactory level and given that they have now become an all-island body, it seems very strange that they have no contractual arrangements in place for Gaelic Games.”

The Ulster Council secretary held counsel on the calendar year proposals, questioning if every branch of the GAA is committed to a “much tighter fixtures regime”.

“Various reports as published recently have much in them to consider. There is a clear need to examine them in detail and determine are they of beneficial gain.

The need to maintain predominant position during the spring, summer period in the media and the upholding of our TV presence are critical factors.

"We are looking at a calendar year and the real issue is have we the unity of purpose to adhere to a fixtures programme that places a much tighter regime on when we play our key fixtures. The test for all of us to address is that while we can agree the principal, but have we collectively the discipline to deliver what is advocated."