Re-testing likely as anger grows over GAA referee fitness tests

Top GAA refs failed new fitness tests in record numbers at the weekend, creating an unwelcome headache a week before the start of the inter-county season

TESTING: Referee Brendan Cawley during Sunday's thrilling All-Ireland Club SFC final between the Glen and St. Brigid's.

A number of the country's top GAA referees have been told they're not fit enough to take charge of games in the opening round of the Allianz Football League next weekend, Examiner Sport can reveal.

Top whistlers, including All-Ireland final referees David Gough and David Coldrick, plus the likes of Niall Cullen, Anthony Nolan, Liam Devenney and Derek O’Mahoney failed tough fitness tests at Abbotstown at the weekend.

The shock leaves GAA chiefs facing a serious issue ahead of the opening round of the Football League after record levels of fitness test failure by the country’s top officials. 

Only 19 of the 42 inter-county referees succeeded in meeting the required standard, leaving Croke Park with an insufficient number of certified officials for the opening weekend of 16 National League football games next Saturday and Sunday. Each venue must have a standby referee, which would require 32 officials for the opening round of League games.

The likes of Joe McQuillan, Conor Lane, Paul Faloon, Sean Hurson, John Ryan and David Murnane passed the bleep tests conducted by DCU’s Dermot Sheridan, who took over the role this year. 

The pass rate was 16.8. 

Of 42 officials tested, 19 passed, 13 failed and ten did not do the testing for one reason or another - including the likes of Brendan Cawley, who handled Sunday's dramatic All-Ireland club SFC final.

With officials set to review the process on Monday, the unprecedented levels of failure raise the obvious question: was the level or administration of testing too tough or are inter-county officials not at the required level of fitness for the modern game? Angry referees met for nearly two hours in the wake of the testing to discuss the fallout and the potential consequences.

Repeat testing is likely in advance of the second or third round of Allianz League fixtures though it is not clear whether the same levels will be expected. Chances are the 13 who failed on Saturday will be re-tested while the ten officials who missed Friday's tests will be given two opportunities to meet the necessary standard.

The country’s top hurling referees are scheduled to do their fitness tests next Friday. Only the 19 referees who passed the Abbotstown fitness tests are now eligible to officiate next weekend’s Allianz Football League opening round. The remainder will have to be employed, though, as standby officials.