Advertisement
Morgan Treacy/INPHO
Frustrated

Intercounty refs are needed for big club ties, as 'there's too much at stake'

Niall Daly felt that his club deserved a replay for a refereeing performance which he claims cost them a Championship final place.

PADRAIG PEARSES AND Roscommon defender Niall Daly says that for all the effort he has put into representing his county, to have his year ended by a refereeing decision so “unfairly” is infuriating.

Daly’s team last week had an appeal over their championship semi final defeat to St Faithleach’s rejected by the Connacht Council.

In a low-scoring encounter, a contentious refereeing decision denied Pearses a last minute point while a second half penalty decision was also reversed resulting in a throw-ball.

Supporters broke into a fit of rage with referee Michael Brehony having to be escorted off the field.

“For the amount of work and travelling a club player puts in all year, it’s not good enough,” Daly told TheScore.ie.

If down the line it could lead to county boards looking at the appointment of referees for big games, semi finals onwards, looking at appointing inter county referees even from outside of the county – then this problem wouldn’t happen.

Niall Daly James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

The south Roscommon club used video evidence in their bid to overturn the referee’s report and earn themselves a replay, yet after their case was forwarded from the county board to the Connacht Council’s Hearing Committee it was rejected by the provincial board.

Pearses opted not to take their case to the Disputes Resolution Authority (DRA) allowing the county final fixture to go ahead last weekend, but for Daly it’s no sign of a lack of frustration on their part.

It’s very frustrating when you put everything into a hard year for your county and then you’re unfairly treated.

The 23-year-old whose younger brothers Conor and Ronan also featured in the game added, “We’d of been hopeful that something might come of the appeal but we were clinging on I suppose.

“The point at the end of the game, the referee said that ‘It is nearly the last kick of the game,’ the ball was kicked in and it hit the crossbar and when it came out it was fisted back over and he blew it up then for a square ball.

“He went into the umpire then and he was told it was a point but he kept the decision that it was a free out and blew it up after about five minutes of going in and out and telling the umpire to wave it wide.”

Conor Daly and James Morgan Brothers Conor (inset) and Ronan are also both on the Roscommon senior panel. Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

Referee Michael Brehony has declined to comment, while Roscommon GAA have confirmed that an investigation into those involved in the post-match incident causing the referee to be escorted off the field is ongoing.

13-year old Ronan Fitzgerald had 120 seconds of life left after a clash of heads

St. Vincent’s look to retain their Dublin SFC crown while Donaghy faces O’Sullivan in Kerry final

Your Voice
Readers Comments
5
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.