Maurice Deegan: Social media is killing GAA refereeing

Veteran referee warns of the threat that abusive comments made on social media presents to recruiting and retaining new officials

FINAL CALL: Maurice Deegan during his last Ulster SFC clash last April between Donegal and Armagh in Ballybofey. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile

Three-time All-Ireland SFC final referee Maurice Deegan believes “social media is a curse on refereeing” and is having a major impact on the recruitment of new match officials.

Having turned 50 this year, the Laois referee officiated his last inter-county game in June when Leitrim and Sligo met in a Tailteann Cup quarter-final, his last Sam Maguire Cup game being the Donegal-Armagh Ulster quarter-final in April.