Referees need more help For many in this small country the appearance of U2 in Croke Park will prove to be the highlight of the year. However, the weekend preceding the sell-out concert will be viewed with much more significance by those counties still competing in the Bank of Ireland Football Championship. During the weekend of the 18th/19th June not only did we get a chance to cast an eye over the major runners for the All Ireland but we also saw a major change in terms of how the game is refereed. An apparent directive was given to referees to clamp down on any form of indiscipline and not to be hesitant in brandishing cards. As a result most teams had players sent off that weekend and referees came in for even more criticism than normal. In fact the Down V Fermanagh qualifier and the Armagh V Donegal Ulster semi-final resulted in a total of nine players being sent off. Once again we have the issue of refereeing hitting the headlines and the cause of much debate among supporters. What angered players and mentors was the fact that they were unaware that such a clampdown had taken place. Previously managers would have been made aware, officially or unofficially, that referees would be stringent on certain rules and hence players would be on their guard. Following the rash of sendings off, appeals were lodged and Brain McEniff went as far as saying that in Ulster, games should only be handled by an Ulster referee as it is extremely difficult for 'outsiders' to come in and adjust to the pace and passion of the Ulster Championship. Whilst acknowledging that there has been much inconsistency by referees in the championship to date I believe that this will not improve until radical changes are implemented to assist referees. The removal of time keeping duties would surely lesson the burden on referees. How many times during a match does the referee l ook down at his watch instead of keeping an eye on what is going on around him? The GAA may be wary of being seen as following other codes, but an official timekeeper on the sideline with complete control of timing, injury stoppages etc and a hooter to signal the end of the game would surely help the plight of the much maligned referee. His officials too need to become more prominent in assisting him. It is impossible for the referee to see everything that is going on around the pitch. An audio-link with linesmen has improved the communication process - perhaps this could also work with umpires. Often we see an umpire raise his hand after a misdemeanour has occurred - he may hold it up for 20-30 seconds and if the referee does not notice, the play goes on and the hand is sheepishly lowered. It goes without saying that the role of the referee is paramount in deciding the outcome of many important games. Managers and players will study the type of referee they have for a big game. Before the first Tyrone and Cavan game the Cavan PRO voiced his concerns publicly about the match referee Gerry Kinneavy and even pin-pointed areas of the game he needed to improve. After the eighth minute of injury time in the drawn game it was the Tyrone supporters who were voicing their disapproval of the ref. A simple error by the referee can often result in defeat and destroy a years' work, perhaps ruining the career of a manger as well as the hopes and dreams of players and supporters alike. They do have a huge responsibility - and there should be more done for them to help improve their performances. With so much at stake nowadays why not select a top band of referees and give them the time, finance and resources required to work together as a group in conjunction with players and managers. If this results in a big improvement regarding the consistency of refereeing, it will prove very beneficial to our game - even though we may have formed a band of 5/6 semi-professional referees. The aforementioned weekend has also given us a clearer picture of the make-up for the provincial finals. Munster has gone very much to plan with the big two progressing very nicely. Billy Morgan will have his troops really fired up for this one and he will derive great satisfaction if Cork can topple the All Ireland Champions in a Munster final. If this is to happen then they may tie a chain around the Gooch - his form is improving and for all those corner backs out there I'm sorry to say but he appears to be playing even better than last year. Cork will be hoping to starve the Gooch of possession and for this to happen they will have to dominate the middle third of the field - not a very easy assignment considering Kerry have such demanding figures in this sector - in particular Dara and Tomas O Se and Eoin Brosnan. Whilst fancying Kerry I do believe that Cork will be stiff opposition and it should be a fiercely competitive final. In the west we have another clash of the big two. Last year, Galway were hot favourites and were expected to progress. This year, the roles are reversed. After struggling to put Leitrim away Galway will relish the opportunity to compete in a Connacht final as underdogs. Mayo appear to be playing with a greater degree of confidence and are very determined to build on their achievements in '04. The outcome of this final could well be decided by the performances of the two number 11's. On their day, both Ciaran McDonald and Michael Donnellan are match winners. They can dictate the pattern and tempo of the game and provide quality ball to the inside men. When Donnellan plays well, Pauric Joyce plays well. Likewise when McDonald gets his hands on a lot of the ball then Conor Mortimer will be the main beneficiary and scores will be inevitable. These two sides know each other inside out and I wouldn't be surprised to see this one going to a replay. So far the Leinster championship has provided us with the best football and the most excitement. I would expect Dublin and Laois to provide more of this. Two teams with a lot of attack-minded players, gifted midfielders and forwards running up big scores - a classic in the making. Having struggled against Offaly, Laois really came out of their shell against Kildare. They will need to maintain this level of skill and pace if they are to defeat the Dubs whose ability to find the net has stood them well so far. If Laois are to conquer they will have to prevent this happening. Croke Park will be packed to capacity for this one and as I have tipped them from the start of the Leinster campaign I'll not change now - the Dubs to win. One Dub that would dearly love to be playing in the Leinster final is Dessie Farrell. His rehab from knee surgery is still ongoing and he will have to settle for a seat in the stand. One seat that he will not be so reluctant to take is that on the Central Council. His appointment onto such a powerful committee is a significant and historical development for the GPA. It will also provide an opportunity for a more productive relationship to develop between players and officialdom. In any other sports code, player recognition and representation has been a vital cog if that association wishes to move forward with continued success. Therefore, Dessie's selection should prove to be a positive and dynamic move for the GAA itself. Tweet

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