Getting the right scores

Clare GAA will be enforcing the scoring averages rule this year, it was confirmed at this week’s board meeting but officials stressed that securing accurate scorelines from games is a major concern.

Miltown’s Noel Walsh raised the question when he asked for a decision on the matter.
“All clubs must know what system is going to apply,” he said.
“The rule is quite specific but it’s not as simple as that. There is no easy solution,” said chairman Michael O’Neill.
Pat Fitzgerald told the meeting that he wasn’t very happy with the situation.
“We have been compiling scores for 17 years but we have a number of competitions for which we have no referees and these are just as important as the other competitions. We have already lost two key referees from last year. We will have up to 55 games over the upcoming Easter weekend and we have only 18 referees to take charge of these,” he said, pointing out the difficulty in getting a written record of the score from each game.
He added that “referees will have to be found. It a big problem and our clubs have to face up to this”.
Tubber’s Michael Lee suggested that scores should be published each week and clubs should then be given seven days to question the scores if they didn’t agree.
With regard to the junior games, where it’s up to the home club to source the referee, Kilmihil’s Gerard O’Neill suggested that after the game, the managers of both teams should get the referee to sign for the correct score.
Replying to a query from Shannon Gaels delegate Paudie Nealon, as to whether or not the scoring averages would apply for relegation only, secretary Fitzgerald said that they will apply in all cases where teams finish level, including in the championship.
Ruan’s John O’Sullivan suggested that clubs should be given referee’s forms that they could give out to the referee at the end of the game and get them filled out.
Kilmaley’s Michael Maher, a member of the fixtures committee, said he was disappointed with the level of debate.
“There is a crisis and its been going on for a few years. There is a major lack of referees and, unless clubs come up with something concrete, we will not get games played this year.”
“Applying the rule won’t solve this problem as we need more referees,” said chairman O’Neill.
Noel Walsh said “the problems with regard to referees is in every county but other counties have their results and score differences published each week”.
Replying to this, Pat Fitzgerald said that there were a lot more referees available in Tipperary and Limerick than in Clare and talked of the amount of time it takes each week to find replacements when some of those appointed are unavailable.
Bord na nÓg chairman Sean O’Halloran told the meeting that “getting referees is a massive problem and the referee’s decision is final and that is what counts.”
“All our attitudes to referees are off the wall,” said Sixmilebridge chairman PJ Fitzpatrick. “We don’t have a referee in our club and we are finding it very hard to get one. Abuse is the reason for this and we are all guilty. There must be an educational campaign and there must be a page on every match programme stating ‘do not abuse the referee. If a club feels very aggrieved then they must have a right to write to the board. They must have a right to vent their anger. Any club or official that abuses a referee must suffer the full rigours of the law.”
Kilkee secretary John Lynch undertook to provide the results for all of his club’s games and for games played in Kilkee.
Scoring averages will apply this year and, in relation to games where the home club is responsible for the appointment of referees, the winning club must ensure that the result is submitted.