Cork referee shortage: '500 children were left without football and that’s devastating'

28 grassroots games in Cork were called off on Sunday as efforts to find referees to cover the games proved fruitless.

ONE OF THE FEW: Cork referee Pat Cronin looks on as Riverstown's Shannon Carson attempts to round Lakewood's Sinead Kelly during the GE Healthcare CWSSL Senior Womens Premier league match at Lakewood. Picture: Howard Crowdy

A severe referee shortage in Cork that caused 28 grassroots games to be postponed last Sunday is not going to abate any time soon, says Cork Schoolboys League chairman Peter Connolly.

“We are in a very sad situation. I don’t know where we are going from here. 500 children were left without football on Sunday. And that’s devastating.”