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Who'd Be A Ref?

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The successful appeal of Kilcoo's Brannigan allowing him to play in the All Ireland is yet another example of the GAA system being unfit for purpose. Not only were Kilcoo relatively unhindered by his dismissal ( they were allowed to resume playing with 15 men a minute later ) but now he doesn't even serve a ban. There should be transparency around why the appeal was successful. It looked pretty clear cut on TV and it completely undermines linesman David Gough who made the call. This is not a dig at Kilcoo. Every team appeals frivolously nowadays and more often than not they are successful. We talk of GAA being manly but the opposite is true. Rugby and soccer players take their medicine. Roy Keane missed a champions league final for two yellow cards ( in different games ) but never whinged or tried to get off on a technicality. It's pathetic in the GAA and typical of a wider societal issue where there is an unwillingness to take personal responsibility and a constant desire to divert blame elsewhere. To go back to the title of the thread, I don't know how referees and officials stomach it. Rebel2020 (Cork) - Posts: 75 - 04/02/2022 19:41:09 2398354 Link
Replying To Rebel2020: "The successful appeal of Kilcoo's Brannigan allowing him to play in the All Ireland is yet another example of the GAA system being unfit for purpose. Not only were Kilcoo relatively unhindered by his dismissal ( they were allowed to resume playing with 15 men a minute later ) but now he doesn't even serve a ban. There should be transparency around why the appeal was successful. It looked pretty clear cut on TV and it completely undermines linesman David Gough who made the call. This is not a dig at Kilcoo. Every team appeals frivolously nowadays and more often than not they are successful. We talk of GAA being manly but the opposite is true. Rugby and soccer players take their medicine. Roy Keane missed a champions league final for two yellow cards ( in different games ) but never whinged or tried to get off on a technicality. It's pathetic in the GAA and typical of a wider societal issue where there is an unwillingness to take personal responsibility and a constant desire to divert blame elsewhere. To go back to the title of the thread, I don't know how referees and officials stomach it." What a load of waffle. What Branagan did was foolish and cost his team the chance to win the game in normal time. It was stupid to run over and shoulder barge the Finbarrs players (video evidence has proved he didn't strike) the Barrs players lay down trying to pull the wool over the linesman and succeded in getting the Kilcoo player sent off. My problem is that a very experienced referee decided to guess what had happened. His job was to report what had happened to the referee and not what he thought happened. I have no doubt in my mind that Brendan Cawley would have asked Gough what colour the card should be. Why should a player sent off in the wrong not appeal an awful decision by David Gough. This whole take your medicine is laughable, why should a player miss out of the biggest day in club football because a massive blunder by a referee? shaggylegend (Monaghan) - Posts: 1928 - 05/02/2022 09:50:26 2398369 Link
Replying To Rebel2020: "The successful appeal of Kilcoo's Brannigan allowing him to play in the All Ireland is yet another example of the GAA system being unfit for purpose. Not only were Kilcoo relatively unhindered by his dismissal ( they were allowed to resume playing with 15 men a minute later ) but now he doesn't even serve a ban. There should be transparency around why the appeal was successful. It looked pretty clear cut on TV and it completely undermines linesman David Gough who made the call. This is not a dig at Kilcoo. Every team appeals frivolously nowadays and more often than not they are successful. We talk of GAA being manly but the opposite is true. Rugby and soccer players take their medicine. Roy Keane missed a champions league final for two yellow cards ( in different games ) but never whinged or tried to get off on a technicality. It's pathetic in the GAA and typical of a wider societal issue where there is an unwillingness to take personal responsibility and a constant desire to divert blame elsewhere. To go back to the title of the thread, I don't know how referees and officials stomach it." While I will say the Kilkoo player Brannigan was totally stupid to get involved with an opponent when his teammate was lining up a match winning free there is no way the incident should have resulted in a red card… He ran into the player but didn't raise a fist or foot… What on earth did Gough say to the referee..? It was a yellow card incident at most ( borne out by the red card been rescinded ) but never a red… On a separate point I don't think the referee should have thrown the ball up after dealing (wrongly) with the incident as it had no bearing with the awarding of the original free…. The Kilkoo player was not gaining any advantage by his actions but rather hindering his own player by delaying the taking of the free …. When a player is awarded a free and reacts to the force of the tackle a ref is well untitled to throw the ball up but not in this incident… To answer your question.. "Who'd be a ref..? " it looks like the answer is "Anybody" because we have an awful lot of bad ones..they are even making a mess of running the line…!!!! ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1885 - 05/02/2022 10:01:15 2398372 Link
Agree 100%. I was going to start a thread on this as well. Not that I should have to state it, but this isn't a shot at the individual in this case or Kilcoo. Nobody likes to see a player miss a big game, but actions need to have consequences in all walks of life. It's not the first time this has happened and certainly won't be the last, unfortunately. We regularly see players who have been sent off correctly, getting reprieved for big matches. What makes it worse is that no reason is ever given. The lack of transparency on this issue is actually worse than the decision itself. The GAA talk a good game about respecting referees, yet they're completely undermining them in these situations. A starting point would be to say why the red card was rescinded. If it's a technicality, then give the detail and there's a chance something can be done to close these ridiculous loopholes. It makes a mockery of the rules. WanPintWin (Galway) - Posts: 2030 - 05/02/2022 10:38:00 2398376 Link
Replying To Rebel2020: "The successful appeal of Kilcoo's Brannigan allowing him to play in the All Ireland is yet another example of the GAA system being unfit for purpose. Not only were Kilcoo relatively unhindered by his dismissal ( they were allowed to resume playing with 15 men a minute later ) but now he doesn't even serve a ban. There should be transparency around why the appeal was successful. It looked pretty clear cut on TV and it completely undermines linesman David Gough who made the call. This is not a dig at Kilcoo. Every team appeals frivolously nowadays and more often than not they are successful. We talk of GAA being manly but the opposite is true. Rugby and soccer players take their medicine. Roy Keane missed a champions league final for two yellow cards ( in different games ) but never whinged or tried to get off on a technicality. It's pathetic in the GAA and typical of a wider societal issue where there is an unwillingness to take personal responsibility and a constant desire to divert blame elsewhere. To go back to the title of the thread, I don't know how referees and officials stomach it." Rugby and soccer players can appeal poor decisions and in some cases get them overturned. Not sure if it's the case but seem to remember in soccer that some appeals were rejected and the suspension was increased. The impact to the team shouldn't influence an official's judgement and if mistakes are made there should be a chance to rectify it. Would be much worse if Kilcoo lost a final because a penalty was incorrectly given against them. GreenandRed (Mayo) - Posts: 7324 - 05/02/2022 11:00:52 2398379 Link
Replying To ForeverBlue2: "While I will say the Kilkoo player Brannigan was totally stupid to get involved with an opponent when his teammate was lining up a match winning free there is no way the incident should have resulted in a red card… He ran into the player but didn't raise a fist or foot… What on earth did Gough say to the referee..? It was a yellow card incident at most ( borne out by the red card been rescinded ) but never a red… On a separate point I don't think the referee should have thrown the ball up after dealing (wrongly) with the incident as it had no bearing with the awarding of the original free…. The Kilkoo player was not gaining any advantage by his actions but rather hindering his own player by delaying the taking of the free …. When a player is awarded a free and reacts to the force of the tackle a ref is well untitled to throw the ball up but not in this incident… To answer your question.. "Who'd be a ref..? " it looks like the answer is "Anybody" because we have an awful lot of bad ones..they are even making a mess of running the line…!!!!" You totally supported my point in your final statement. The reason we have bad refs is that only a fool would want to be one in the current system Rebel2020 (Cork) - Posts: 75 - 05/02/2022 11:07:47 2398381 Link
That's why the red card was recinded…. It was a wrong decision by two incompetent officials… simple ForeverBlue2 (Cavan) - Posts: 1885 - 05/02/2022 11:35:05 2398389 Link
A young woman Ref'd the Ireland v Wales game last night with no issues, before the game it was said that foul language would viewed with Zero tolerance, - - - don't shoot the messenger. supersub15 (Carlow) - Posts: 2907 - 05/02/2022 13:15:16 2398400 Link
The answer to the question. No one who wanted to be assessed by want to be relevant t.v. analyst, arm chair assessors, abused and maybe physically attacked by SOME supporters. This especially when they come in at the learning stage and make mistakes like the players. Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2653 - 05/02/2022 14:33:03 2398412 Link
A lot of them seem to me to be on a wee power trip, in all fairness wee have some awful referees, fellas slogging their guts out all year only to have their chance ruined by some dimwit ref, I have to laugh at the way refs bring frees forward sometimes for some wee thing being said to them, they must have a rough time in the schoolyard as wanes. Glad the Kilcoo man is back for the final and I'm hoping they win the All Ireland club title for Ulster. Tirchonaill1 (Donegal) - Posts: 2733 - 05/02/2022 16:07:50 2398424 Link
Incidentally there is always questions around who gets red cards recinded and who can influence the appeals. This is because of the lack of transparency. Maybe if that occurred there would be less scepticism and more believe in the process. There will always be subjectiveness and people not in agreement but the process gets creditability. Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2653 - 05/02/2022 16:30:29 2398429 Link
Id opine that many refs quite enjoy the gig, I've often found them to be quite arrogant, and despite what they may say publicly, don't really give a damn about whether or not the players give out to them, even when the players are right. Even when a ref knows he made the wrong call its still very rare for them to admit it and change their mind. Galway9801 (Galway) - Posts: 1693 - 05/02/2022 16:33:44 2398431 Link
It is simple he didn't strike the barrs player, he shouldered him and again not in the head, which the barr player through himself onto the ground holding his face trying to get the kilcoo player sent off ( shameful ) if anything the Barrs lad you now receive a ban foe cheating. Also when Barrs scored there goal again a kilcoo lad shouldered the scorer who again through himself onto the ground holding his face this was a ploy by barrs which unfortunately is coming into our game. Both Barrs lads should receive bans for cheating. Yourjoking (USA) - Posts: 703 - 05/02/2022 16:39:16 2398432 Link
Replying To Yourjoking: "It is simple he didn't strike the barrs player, he shouldered him and again not in the head, which the barr player through himself onto the ground holding his face trying to get the kilcoo player sent off ( shameful ) if anything the Barrs lad you now receive a ban foe cheating. Also when Barrs scored there goal again a kilcoo lad shouldered the scorer who again through himself onto the ground holding his face this was a ploy by barrs which unfortunately is coming into our game. Both Barrs lads should receive bans for cheating." Sorry some terrible spelling there, I'm bad. Yourjoking (USA) - Posts: 703 - 05/02/2022 17:39:32 2398444 Link