Last year's All-Ireland hurling final referee Diarmuid Kirwan has blasted players and officials for their "over the top" criticism and abuse of referees. The Cork whistler, whose father Gerry, from Ballyskenagh in Offaly, took charge of the 1988 All-Ireland decider between Galway and Tipperary, believes certain players show a lack of respect for the authority of the referee. "Even at inter-county level you have certain players who have this disrespect for referees," he said. "You wonder sometimes that if these fellas led by example, it would be a lot easier for the referees." Kirwan himself has felt the full force of over-zealous players and officials as a referee, having received physical abuse. "On one occasion, I was physically abused leaving the field after a championship game," he added. "It was a minor assault - unfortunately the problems now with what is happening in the GAA, you might have a lot of local derby championship matches." Tweet

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