John Fogarty: And the case for two referees strengthens

Ulster secretary Brian McAvoy’s innovative suggestion last month didn’t receive a fraction of the attention it deserved, writes John Fogarty.

Ulster secretary Brian McAvoy’s innovative suggestion last month didn’t receive a fraction of the attention it deserved.

From Jim Gavin to Aidan O’Shea in Gaelic football to Davy Fitzgerald in hurling, the idea of two referees has regularly been proposed in recent years. Apart from the difficulty in finding consistency between the pair, the main arguments against it centres on the need for another match official when there are now seven surrounding the perimeter of the field. The current shortage of referees is another sticking point towards progression.