Referees

[Treasurer]

While ye're all on a roll about getting involved - any of ye interested in doing forthcoming referee's course? Serious scarcity in the county and getting worse.

[Silken Thomas]

Any potential referees in the County would have justified second-thoughts about getting involved after the Michael Mahon incident.
My point is that the Offaly County Board have not protected this referee.
I will highlight the incident involving St. Kevins hurling club in Dublin. A member of this club struck the referee(name escapes me). According to the Irish Independant they have been thrown out of all competitions until St. Kevins identify the culprit.

Makes you wonder...

[Lone Shark]

I would have considered this a while ago due to my inability to do anything useful with a football in my hands, but even if it was compatible with work right now I'd be exactly the same - there is no way I would take it on after what happened. You've basically been sent a message by the county board that unless the guy is caught on camera you're going to be a legitimate target for any nutter who wants to take a pop. Not under any circumstances would I take this on right now.

[the weasel]

We could certainly use more refs in the county. I really hate when football refs ref hurling games and give frees for nothing when the player in posession just runs into his man and wins a free and no nothing about playing the hurl.

[Biffo Army]

I think it was that Eamon Morris guy that was struck in the St Kevins match! Some contrast to Offaly alright, how would any person be interested in taking up refereeing after the County Boards ridiculous decision on the Michael Mahon incident!

[Biffo Army]

By Cliona Foley
Saturday April 05 2008


DUBLIN hurling club Kevins have been allowed back into all county competitions after identifying the member who struck referee Eamonn Morris at a recent league match.


Brian Flannery, who resigned from his position as club chairman last week, has been identified as the culprit and now faces a proposed two-year ban.

The club has also been fined €5,000 by the Dublin County Board, but has been told that €3,000 of it will be refunded in two years if the club's disciplinary record has no further blemishes.

Well-known inter-county referee Morris needed hospital treatment for a facial injury after the incident, which caused the abandonment of a county league match against St Sylvester's on March 15.


Bit of an Offaly connection here! Brian Flannery is originally from Banagher and is an uncle of current senior panelist Ciaran Flannery!

Wonder was he at the game when Michael Mahon got struck..............

[johntherobber]

i think de only qualification for becoming a referee in offaly is that you know absoleutly nothing about hurling!!