Galvin badly wronged by the GAA
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THE recent suspension of Paul Galvin has raised many issues in relation to referring and the decisions taken by Croke Park committees. Just let me say for this week that I am in my mind 100% sure that the Finuge man has been badly wronged in this instance..
I was at the game and reported live on Radio Kerry as it happened that no blow was struck as the two players tangled on the ground. The incident occurred off the ball and I saw it from the very beginning. Both players were wronged. I will return to this when space permits because there is much more to the whole sorry saga than meets the eye.
To me it’s now a case where Paul is concerned of "give a dog a bad name". An old adage my grandmother thought me and how true it isTwo years ago I wrote here in relation to referring and the problems that accompany that most thankless of all GAA positions.
A lot of yellow and red cards have been flashed since then. However, I finished that particular column with the words that we would be returning to this subject time and time again because I felt then and still do that all the problems surrounding the refereeing of Gaelic football have always been there, are still present and will always be with us in the future.
I have said on many occasions that Gaelic football is the most confusing and difficult field sport in the world to referee. Despite all the changing of rules and much more emphasis being placed in the training of referees the situation for me anyway is far from satisfactory.
It seems that every weekend we are hearing of problems regarding sendings off, blatantly wrong decisions and referees being verbally abused. An let's not fudge here and remind yourself that the most sorry sight of all on GAA fields is the spectacle of two burly Garda rushing to the assistance of the referee as irate fans surround him.
We saw it in Limerick following an All Ireland club game recently. In my referring days I found myself in a similar situations and I can assure you it is not a pleasant experience and remains etched in the memory for a long time. However, the men in the middle themselves must also take a long hard look at themselves and their teamwork with linesmen and umpires.
