National Forum

Top Referees

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In football and hurling who would you say are top referees in both codes at the moment? Also, who would you pick as your top referee from the past?

iacob (Carlow) - Posts: 67 - 24/03/2022 19:47:21    2406936

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I'd have to say Terence murray from my own county in hurling and biggest loss in past few years is Brian Gavin..always thought pat Mcaananey in football,never saw him trying to grab the headlines..

CTGAA10 (Limerick) - Posts: 2231 - 25/03/2022 10:05:03    2406963

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Replying To CTGAA10:  "I'd have to say Terence murray from my own county in hurling and biggest loss in past few years is Brian Gavin..always thought pat Mcaananey in football,never saw him trying to grab the headlines.."
Ask Mayo fans about Pat McEneaney and they won't be too happy but in fairness mostly he was a good ref.

CiarraiMick (Dublin) - Posts: 3680 - 25/03/2022 10:21:54    2406971

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No top refs in football at the moment. The standard is pathetic. Too many new rules every year and lack of help from linesmen and umpires makes it an impossible job, that said some of the decisions been made every game now are shocking

sourmilk93 (Roscommon) - Posts: 1149 - 25/03/2022 10:28:56    2406973

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Replying To CTGAA10:  "I'd have to say Terence murray from my own county in hurling and biggest loss in past few years is Brian Gavin..always thought pat Mcaananey in football,never saw him trying to grab the headlines.."
tbh he grabbed the headlines against kildare in 2010.

Cuhullain (Kildare) - Posts: 273 - 25/03/2022 10:30:17    2406974

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barry kelly in hurling michael curley in football

mickcunningham (Westmeath) - Posts: 1806 - 25/03/2022 10:46:01    2406979

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In hurling it is Fergal Horgan for me.
I always think James Owens gets a hard time of it to be fair, over a couple of high profile incidents which he didn't have the benefit if replay for (#1 change I would make to the game btw). Hurl in matches he refereed every year and think he is a good ref.
Another 2 top refs in Wexford if you ask me are Niall McDonald (a Wexford hurler from the 80s/90s) and John Carton.

StoreysTash (Wexford) - Posts: 1737 - 25/03/2022 10:57:43    2406983

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David Coldrick and David Gough are usually very good.

CmonAymonow (Laois) - Posts: 160 - 25/03/2022 15:09:01    2407062

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "In hurling it is Fergal Horgan for me.
I always think James Owens gets a hard time of it to be fair, over a couple of high profile incidents which he didn't have the benefit if replay for (#1 change I would make to the game btw). Hurl in matches he refereed every year and think he is a good ref.
Another 2 top refs in Wexford if you ask me are Niall McDonald (a Wexford hurler from the 80s/90s) and John Carton."
James Owens by a country mile. He did not make the rule that got him lambasted last year. There was one game (can't remember which one ) it look like things were going to go south and you could visually see him conversing with the players. He had not brandished one yellow card yet but I am sure he was telling them where he was going next and settle down. The game did settle down and we had a great spectacle.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2671 - 25/03/2022 15:20:16    2407067

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Replying To StoreysTash:  "In hurling it is Fergal Horgan for me.
I always think James Owens gets a hard time of it to be fair, over a couple of high profile incidents which he didn't have the benefit if replay for (#1 change I would make to the game btw). Hurl in matches he refereed every year and think he is a good ref.
Another 2 top refs in Wexford if you ask me are Niall McDonald (a Wexford hurler from the 80s/90s) and John Carton."
James Owens by a country mile. He did not make the rule that got him lambasted last year. There was one game (can't remember which one ) it look like things were going to go south and you could visually see him conversing with the players. He had not brandished one yellow card yet but I am sure he was telling them where he was going next and settle down. The game did settle down and we had a great spectacle.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2671 - 25/03/2022 15:25:42    2407071

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Replying To CiarraiMick:  "Ask Mayo fans about Pat McEneaney and they won't be too happy but in fairness mostly he was a good ref."
That's nothing to do with McEneaney. They looked for a convenient excuse for losing a six point twice in those all ireland finals. Pat was it for them but it's a load of bull. McHale and Maughan in particular still whinge and whine at ever change they get when speaking about 96 rather than talk about the fact they gave up a six point lead. The pair of them look like right eejits to this day for never softening their stance on it. The fact neither will speak to Pat shows how petty they are.

The man has consistently said he always intended to send of McHale and McDermott as he had both of them in his sights bateing the heads of each other. His umpires and Paddy Russell told him flat out Colm Coyle had to go as he'd laid out 3 Mayo fella's. What was Pat to do, send of 2/3 from each side and carry on. How was he going to decide who needed to be the 2nd player from Mayo. The fact McHale came from a distance to get involved and he never mentions it at all, he should've held his council and not gone running and lunging through a crowd of people like he did, he only put the target on his own back and rightly was sent off.

Pat was a great referee, spoke to the players and his assistants and let them know when they were on the edge and not to go any further. The payers all respected him for that and you can see why he was head of the referee's after he retired.

I'd say David Gough and David Coldrick from my own county followed Pat in similar fashion and talk to the players during the match and let them know when they're getting close to the line. They never try and be the star of the show, they're there to facilitate the teams which is what a decent referee should be. I know neither are everyone's cup of team but they allow the game to flow and apply some common sense to things.

And looked no matter the referee someone won't like them for some perceived slight against their own team. I was never a fan of Michael Collins or Conor Lane (Cork) or Paudie Hughes (Armagh). They blew/ blow up for some very technical issues and you'd wish they'd just let the game go. Brian Crowe (Cavan) was another who i'll never know how he got all ireland finals. And of course good oul Dublin Joe (McQuillan) has his moments but he's not a terrible referee.

brian (Meath) - Posts: 1954 - 25/03/2022 17:38:39    2407089

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Replying To iacob:  "In football and hurling who would you say are top referees in both codes at the moment? Also, who would you pick as your top referee from the past?"
John Moloney, Tipperary, hurling and football.

Gaa Fan (USA) - Posts: 749 - 25/03/2022 19:52:33    2407103

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Replying To Canuck:  "James Owens by a country mile. He did not make the rule that got him lambasted last year. There was one game (can't remember which one ) it look like things were going to go south and you could visually see him conversing with the players. He had not brandished one yellow card yet but I am sure he was telling them where he was going next and settle down. The game did settle down and we had a great spectacle."
I'd agree about James Owens. Any mistakes he has made have been blown out of proportion. Another Wexford man, Dickie Murphy, was one of the best in days gone by. In football Paddy Collins was head and shoulders over all others. There's nobody of that standard nowadays but David Coldrick would probbly be the best. What I liked about the four I've mentioned is that they never tried to be the centre of attention, unlike some.

midlands (Westmeath) - Posts: 546 - 25/03/2022 20:28:35    2407106

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Replying To CmonAymonow:  "David Coldrick and David Gough are usually very good."
Goldrick is the best, Gough is an attention seeker.

shaggylegend (Monaghan) - Posts: 1928 - 26/03/2022 10:57:58    2407138

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Replying To brian:  "That's nothing to do with McEneaney. They looked for a convenient excuse for losing a six point twice in those all ireland finals. Pat was it for them but it's a load of bull. McHale and Maughan in particular still whinge and whine at ever change they get when speaking about 96 rather than talk about the fact they gave up a six point lead. The pair of them look like right eejits to this day for never softening their stance on it. The fact neither will speak to Pat shows how petty they are.

The man has consistently said he always intended to send of McHale and McDermott as he had both of them in his sights bateing the heads of each other. His umpires and Paddy Russell told him flat out Colm Coyle had to go as he'd laid out 3 Mayo fella's. What was Pat to do, send of 2/3 from each side and carry on. How was he going to decide who needed to be the 2nd player from Mayo. The fact McHale came from a distance to get involved and he never mentions it at all, he should've held his council and not gone running and lunging through a crowd of people like he did, he only put the target on his own back and rightly was sent off.

Pat was a great referee, spoke to the players and his assistants and let them know when they were on the edge and not to go any further. The payers all respected him for that and you can see why he was head of the referee's after he retired.

I'd say David Gough and David Coldrick from my own county followed Pat in similar fashion and talk to the players during the match and let them know when they're getting close to the line. They never try and be the star of the show, they're there to facilitate the teams which is what a decent referee should be. I know neither are everyone's cup of team but they allow the game to flow and apply some common sense to things.

And looked no matter the referee someone won't like them for some perceived slight against their own team. I was never a fan of Michael Collins or Conor Lane (Cork) or Paudie Hughes (Armagh). They blew/ blow up for some very technical issues and you'd wish they'd just let the game go. Brian Crowe (Cavan) was another who i'll never know how he got all ireland finals. And of course good oul Dublin Joe (McQuillan) has his moments but he's not a terrible referee."
Gough is always trying to be the star of the show. Just ask Kilcoo,Tyrone & Derry.

shaggylegend (Monaghan) - Posts: 1928 - 26/03/2022 10:59:19    2407139

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Replying To midlands:  "I'd agree about James Owens. Any mistakes he has made have been blown out of proportion. Another Wexford man, Dickie Murphy, was one of the best in days gone by. In football Paddy Collins was head and shoulders over all others. There's nobody of that standard nowadays but David Coldrick would probbly be the best. What I liked about the four I've mentioned is that they never tried to be the centre of attention, unlike some."
I remember the great John Maloney of Tipp. He would have the player booked without you knowing while he was on the run. Now we have to have all this fanfare of flashing cards that came from another sport. Even worse than that sport we added another colour card. It is said that it allows the spectator and viewer know what is going on. How has that gone? Has the criticism or abuse of the refs got better ? Just may have been better when a player was sent off and we surmised he must have been booked. I know the game is faster but there is no ref today that would lace John's shoes, football or hurling.

Canuck (Waterford) - Posts: 2671 - 26/03/2022 18:16:03    2407230

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Replying To brian:  "That's nothing to do with McEneaney. They looked for a convenient excuse for losing a six point twice in those all ireland finals. Pat was it for them but it's a load of bull. McHale and Maughan in particular still whinge and whine at ever change they get when speaking about 96 rather than talk about the fact they gave up a six point lead. The pair of them look like right eejits to this day for never softening their stance on it. The fact neither will speak to Pat shows how petty they are.

The man has consistently said he always intended to send of McHale and McDermott as he had both of them in his sights bateing the heads of each other. His umpires and Paddy Russell told him flat out Colm Coyle had to go as he'd laid out 3 Mayo fella's. What was Pat to do, send of 2/3 from each side and carry on. How was he going to decide who needed to be the 2nd player from Mayo. The fact McHale came from a distance to get involved and he never mentions it at all, he should've held his council and not gone running and lunging through a crowd of people like he did, he only put the target on his own back and rightly was sent off.

Pat was a great referee, spoke to the players and his assistants and let them know when they were on the edge and not to go any further. The payers all respected him for that and you can see why he was head of the referee's after he retired.

I'd say David Gough and David Coldrick from my own county followed Pat in similar fashion and talk to the players during the match and let them know when they're getting close to the line. They never try and be the star of the show, they're there to facilitate the teams which is what a decent referee should be. I know neither are everyone's cup of team but they allow the game to flow and apply some common sense to things.

And looked no matter the referee someone won't like them for some perceived slight against their own team. I was never a fan of Michael Collins or Conor Lane (Cork) or Paudie Hughes (Armagh). They blew/ blow up for some very technical issues and you'd wish they'd just let the game go. Brian Crowe (Cavan) was another who i'll never know how he got all ireland finals. And of course good oul Dublin Joe (McQuillan) has his moments but he's not a terrible referee."
Agree with you on most of your post but not on Gough been a top referee. I lost all respect for him after the Tyrone/ Armagh game. How or why he did what he did that day is totally questionable. Before that I did think he was good but this year I feel that he has to be the centre piece/ the talking point. He's messed up a few times already and we are only in the league.

border Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 894 - 26/03/2022 20:54:21    2407263

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Anyone know whose refereeing the big games tomorrow?

border Gael (Monaghan) - Posts: 894 - 26/03/2022 21:01:04    2407265

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Replying To Canuck:  "I remember the great John Maloney of Tipp. He would have the player booked without you knowing while he was on the run. Now we have to have all this fanfare of flashing cards that came from another sport. Even worse than that sport we added another colour card. It is said that it allows the spectator and viewer know what is going on. How has that gone? Has the criticism or abuse of the refs got better ? Just may have been better when a player was sent off and we surmised he must have been booked. I know the game is faster but there is no ref today that would lace John's shoes, football or hurling."
John Moloney's main attribute as a referee was that he was totally consistent in all his games. If you saw him ref one hurling and one football game you knew how he interpreted and applied the rules. No deviation from one game to the next, no nonsense, let the game flow within the rules. Never lectured a player, just said something like "you kicked him, bye for now".

Gaa Fan (USA) - Posts: 749 - 28/03/2022 19:55:39    2407875

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At the moment, certainly in football, listening to all the advice and comments relating to eyesight, ancestors etc, hurled at the TV by yours truly, my better half is of the (sarcastic) opinion that it must be me

I don't like any of them after Pat Mc

essmac (Tyrone) - Posts: 1141 - 31/03/2022 14:15:40    2408667

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