Eoin Kelly: GAA HQ putting pressure on referees
Tipperary legend Eoin Kelly fears free-flowing hurling will suffer this year due to robust refereeing.
Kelly believes officials are “under pressure to use the whistle at the moment” and that the standard of games is suffering as a result.
He pointed to two Allianz League matches last weekend — Wexford v Tipperary and Cork v Clare — to illustrate his argument.
“I hate going there, but a couple of decisions especially towards the latter stages of the game didn’t go Tipperary’s way when they should have.
“The ref gave a lot of frees in the game, and even the Cork v Clare game on Saturday night the ref blew a load in that too. Referees seem to be under pressure to use the whistle.
“Last year we had a great Championship, so if it’s not broken, what are they trying to fix? Leave the game alone!
“Bar the goalline decision between Tipp and Waterford last season, referees weren’t being talked about at all and that was an umpiring decision anyway.
“Now we have them all over League Sunday at the weekend, what does that tell you?
“This is all coming from the hierarchy in Croke Park, but we want to see free-flowing hurling. Why are they trying to change the mindset of referees now,” said the Paddy Power GAA Ambassador and columnist with news.paddypower.com.
