Sport

Off The Fence: Referee Eddie Kinsella in the firing line

Crossmaglen Rangers' Johnny Hanratty points the finger at Eddie Kinsella after Saturday's final whistle. He wasn't the only one unhappy with the referee's display. Picture by Colm O'Reilly
Crossmaglen Rangers' Johnny Hanratty points the finger at Eddie Kinsella after Saturday's final whistle. He wasn't the only one unhappy with the referee's display. Picture by Colm O'Reilly Crossmaglen Rangers' Johnny Hanratty points the finger at Eddie Kinsella after Saturday's final whistle. He wasn't the only one unhappy with the referee's display. Picture by Colm O'Reilly

I KNOW we say it a lot but, honestly, what would make anyone want to be a GAA referee?

In recent times, I’ve considered taking up refereeing soccer. I’d almost chance my hand at rugby. But I would not touch Gaelic football with a bargepole.

You cannot do wrong for doing right. One man’s great decision is another man’s woeful call.

Eddie Kinsella became the man in the firing line at Breffni Park on Saturday evening after his performance left Crossmaglen scratching their heads.

‘Tyrone fan’ was backing his neighbours as well in the face of the Laois whistler’s display.

“Kinsella played a blinder. Some of the soft tap-over frees he gave Castlebar in first half and some of the odd momentum-breaking frees he gave Castlebar in the second showed what a detailed understanding of the rules he has.

“Even with the benefit of the slo-mo replay, on some occasions, I struggled even to notice an incident, never mind a foul; so it was great to have that opportunity to learn about the finer points of Eddie’s rulebook. He’ll go far.”

‘Cathal from Keady’ rang in to claim he was from Keady, and then such more passionate rebuke of Kinsella that one suspects he might be from a few miles down the road.

He was in fact so irate that he had to ring back a second time to make a further point about the umpires apparently also doing Cross a disservice.

“Commiserations to our county and Ulster champions on their heartbreaking defeat to Castlebar. While I acknowledge that Cross missed chances that they would normally take, this does not excuse the disgraceful treatment they received from the referee, especially in the second half.

“Of course, as per usual, The Irish News report of the match on Monday barely touched upon this. The reports in some of the Dublin newspapers were much more forthright in drawing attention to this, pointing out that Kinsella awarded almost double the amount of frees to Castlebar that he awarded to Cross. This says a lot.

“It was clear to all who were at the match that quite a few of the frees against Cross should not have been awarded, while Cross should have been awarded a few more frees than was the case.

“Also, how could Kinsella justify a black card for Paul McKeown and none for at least two of the Castlebar players? And more time should have been allowed at the end.

“It’s long past time Irish News journalists stood up for northern teams. I want to acknowledge that Castlebar are a really good team and I wish them all the best in the final.”

CO’K: Our coverage on Monday did mention the free count. There were plenty of other elements to the game besides the refereeing performance deserving of attention. The last few minutes were chaotic and hard to referee. But Eddie Kinsella did make a couple of big decisions that went against the Ulster champions. The free given in the lead-up to Castlebar’s winning point appeared exceedingly harsh. And on Cross’ final meaningful attack, he missed a clear touch on the ground by Danny Kirby after Stephen Kernan had been dispossessed.

On to matters other, and ‘Gearoid Mac an Bhaird’ has had enough of everyone pointing out the fact that Dublin are a bit rich.

“I have to say that all this bile spewed out by whinging and ‘Green Eyed Envy’ Northern journalists and a fair degree of so-called ‘disgruntled’ fans is getting a bit tiresome.

“You can spurt out pages upon pages of figures going back to the year dot to try and justify your aspersions about bias by GGA HQ towards Dublin but at the end of the day you all come across as just sounding jealous of what Dublin have achieved in recent years.

“No-one cared about what funds were given to Dublin pre-2011 and especially not during the 90’s when my own county (Down) won two glorious ‘Sams’, and the noughties, when Ulster counties, mostly through the back door, were dominating Gaelic football.

“But all of a sudden because ‘Brand’ Dublin are gaining success both on the field and financially as a result whether from the GAA or their ability to get sponsorship from Vodafone the AIG the northerners are suddenly up in arms.

“Dublin for generations were sponsored by Arnotts and very happy to do so but apart from a solitary Sam in 1995 they endured 12 years without reclaiming Sam. Did anyone care about funding then?

“Dublin are the best supported team in Ireland whether in Croke Park or afield and when in Croker benefit the coffers of GAA HQ especially at championship time to quite an amount. Which other counties in Ireland create the same interest from their own fans local or neutrals. None I’d imagine so it is only fair that the best-supported team gets the biggest share back from the GAA.

“Dublin began a redevelopment of youth teams 15 years or more in all codes not just football. Apart from Tyrone what other counties have come close? Northern fans instead of bitching about other counties should get off their asses and go support their teams or whatever team that whose style of play excites them.

“It’s time to get off the backs of Dublin GAA and to look at what your own counties are doing or more likely not doing to develop your youth.”

CO’K: So you just take from the poor to give to the rich then? What Dublin have is not an ‘unfair’ advantage, it’s a consequential advantage, but they all amount to the same.

Magherafelt native ‘Desmond’ emailed to praise Benny Tierney for his column in Friday’s Irish News.

Benny appealed for the GAA to apply common sense to the appeal from Dromard club, who were fined €2,000 by Croke for allowing a Jamie Carragher soccer camp to take place on their club grounds.

“Kudos to Benny Tierney for trying to encourage a reasonable debate on the use of Croke Park for major Concerts.

“Over the years several British acts - namely UB40, Simple Minds and The Police - have played at Croke Park in spite of the antagonism the Organisation had towards British Sports. So, they weren't entirely defending indigenous Culture then.

“Most of the 'Soccer Bashing' within GAA circles was merely a publicity stunt in this age of information warfare, based mainly on the evidence TV provides.

“For example, Phoenix Club Chester FC have their own Weekly Lotto to provide funds. The sooner the people of Ireland see through the mainstream media, the better.”

CO’K: I’d be inclined to agree if it hadn’t been the camp of a former Liverpool player.