The GAA's Match Official Coordinator Pierce Freaney has expressed satisfaction with the standard of refereeing, despite several controversial incidents in big games last weekend. Waterford's John Mullane came in for some rough treatment from the Limerick defence on Saturday, while on the same day, Kilkenny's Tommy Walsh was lucky not to receive a red card against Galway. On Sunday, Derry defender Kevin McGuckin was harshly sent off against Tyrone, while in the second Munster SHC semi-final between Tipperary and Clare, the Banner's Diarmuid McMahon was awarded a goal which TV replays clearly showed had struck the butt of the upright. But a far from concerned Freaney said: "We are very happy with the standard of refereeing overall this summer and at the weekend. "Barry Kelly made a judgement call on Saturday not to send Tommy Walsh off, and I could see where he was coming from. There may be a case to answer from the Waterford-Limerick match, but if there is, it is something we will look at and address at our next referees' seminar. "We are making a big attempt to do what we were asked by managers - that is, to apply the rules that are there." On the controversial Clare 'goal', Freaney added: "That was the umpire's decision and it is one that we would expect to be made correctly. "It fooled everyone at the time, but scores - and particularly goals - should never be awarded mistakenly." Tweet

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