Maurice Brosnan: Teams still try to influence referees, but the culture of dissent has changed

A single cultural shift in Gaelic football discipline has been truly profound.

Referee Brendan Cawley during the GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Kerry and Donegal at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

One of the most positive aspects of the new Gaelic football rules, we are told, is what they have done for the level of dissent towards referees. The seismic change in the game varies from subtle to colossal, across everything from scoring to contested kickouts, but this single cultural shift has been truly profound.

One clip that was used routinely in the referee-training presentations involved Maurice Deegan officiating a high-profile game in Croke Park. After awarding a free, he was asked the same question in eight different ways by eight players. It ate up time and focus and often included far too much dissent than should ever have been tolerated.