Experienced GAA referees set for busy championship season
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Patrick Doherty (Westmeath Head of Operations), Matt Shaw (Clonkill) and Seán Carroll (The Downs) at the presentation of new gear to Westmeath GAA referees.Image 2 of 5
Niall Ward (Garrycastle), Cathal Boland (St Joseph’s), Pat Fox (Rosemount) and Enda Kenny (Ballinagore).Image 3 of 5
Sean Sheridan (Referees’ Coordinator), Eoghan Reilly (Brownstown), Eoin Jordan (Athlone) and Declan Leech (Killucan).Image 4 of 5
Michael Mulvihill (Garrycastle), Caymon Flynn (St Brigid’s), Frank Brennan (Crookedwood) and Frank Mescall (County Committee Chairman).Image 5 of 5
Enda Kelly (castoledaly), Jim Rock (Coralstown/Kinnegad), Barry Pierce (St Mary’s, Rochfortbridge) and Richie Heffernan (Turin), at the presenattion of new referee gear.Westmeath GAA referees were presented with new gear head of the league finals and championship season at a meeting in Bloomfield House Hotel, Mullingar on Thursday evening.
It was also an opportunity for referees to refresh and prepare for the challenges that lie ahead in what is a busy, challenging time of year.
Westmeath Referees’ Coordinator Sean Sheridan welcomed all referees to what he described as “an important gathering” for the busiest time of year. Jimmy Cribbin, Chairman of the referees' committee, encouraged the referees to work with the various advisors in terms of improving and upskilling. Joe Martin, a local and national advisor, was present.
The two fixtures secretaries, Keith Quinn (adult CCC Secretary) and Peter Collins (Coiste na nÓg) were in attendance and Mr Sheridan urged all referees to support what is a hectic fixtures programme. County Committee Secretary Brendan Shaw was among the gathering.
County Committee Chairman Frank Mescall urged all referees to be consistent and strong, reminding them that they are in control when it comes to gaining respect. A contentious issue over the years has been abuse of match officials, but the chairman encouraged the referees to be strong in this area.
“You don’t have to take abuse; deal with it. If you take it and ignore it, you are responsible; you have to help yourselves,” he remarked.
Garrycastle referee Niall Ward, a Leinster tutor, guided referees through various clips on different rules and it generated plenty of discussion. Referees were very conscious of the challenges they face in many areas, including the application of the advantage rule, their judgement on rough, dangerous and reckless play, throw ball in hurling and over-carrying in both codes.
Match officials will also attempt to keep stricter tabs on players taking scoring frees from a more advanced position, something that is proving a consistent challenge in football.
Westmeath Head of Operations, Patrick Doherty, the former National Match Officials Manager, also provided guidance and support in the key area of referee reports, a vital tool for the county's Competitions Control Committee. Clonkill referee Matt Shaw, Chairman of the Central Hearings Committee in Croke Park, was on hand to lend his valued knowledge and experience.
A strong level of inter county experience was present on the evening, including former All-Ireland hurling referees Barry Kelly and James McGrath, and former inter county football referees Pat Fox and Seán Carroll. Certainly there is no lack of experience among the Westmeath cohort and the new referees, who have been very active in the underage season thus far, can only benefit as they continue to meet the challenges. Westmeath continues to have a strong team of match officials backed up by an impressive level of support, all of which contributes positively to Gaelic games at the all levels in the county.
The meeting concluded with a presentation of specially designed referee jerseys to the Westmeath officials ahead of the championship season.