Seán Walsh: Big men will get fair play from referees

GAA referees chief Seán Walsh expects officials to treat all players the same regardless of their size.

Donegal, Mayo and Kerry managers have all recently complained that some of their six foot plus men have been treated unfairly by match officials. Éamonn Fitzmaurice became the latest to hit out at standards following the Division 1 final defeat to Dublin in which he felt Kieran Donaghy was fouled without punishment.

His comments come after Donegal boss Rory Gallagher and former Mayo co-manager Noel Connelly pleaded the cases of Michael Murphy and Aidan O’Shea, respectively, last season. National Referees Development chairman Walsh said his match officials have received no directive about such comments. However, he would like to believe all of the 18-man football championship panel of referees judge players in the same light.