Hurling clubs could lose home advantage if they don't provide referees
January 13, 2015
'Shortage of Meath Club Hurling Referees' - beginning to sound like a broken record
It does seem that a meeting of the Meath County Committee cannot be held these days without the subject of the shortage of hurling referees being raised and the first session of 2015 was no exception.
The ball was set rolling by a motion from the management committee recommending that all hurling clubs supply the name and GAA ID number of a certified referee who must be a club member who will be available to take charge of hurling games in the county.
The motion also states that failure to do so shall entail the forfeiture of home advantage for all league games with such games being played at the opposing club's grounds or, if the other club does not have a referee, at a neutral venue.
However, Pat Smyth of Navan O'Mahonys suggested that passing such a motion could be a recipe for disaster, adding that is unfair on clubs to force them into supplying referees.
Jimmy Henry said it was becoming boring that this matter was being raised at every meeting, recalling that the issue was discussed nine years ago and was still a problem.
Referees' co-ordinator Donal Smyth was unable to be present but Henry said that the O'Mahonys cluman will hold a course for new referees shortly.
"It is a nightmare at the moment trying to get hurling referees," remarked Henry.
