Pat O'Connor believes that use of video technology could help identify instigators of flashpoints

Irish Examiner

30-04-2025

Three-time All-Ireland senior hurling final referee Pat O'Connor has called for the use of video technology to help identify instigators of flashpoints.
Limerick native O'Connor, who took charge of the 1999, 2001 and '03 finals, also wants to see managers repositioned in the stand with the maor foirne role being returned to provide a link between the management and players.
After a spate of incidents in recent games, the Ahane man is adamant a TV match official is required in hurling. 'I think in order to give hurling referees a bit more help, there needs to be something like VAR brought into the game,' said O'Connor. 'To help referees because the game has gone so fast now.
'The incidents at the start of the Cork-Tipp game were pretty unsavoury, alright. How do you deal with it? The umpires, linesmen and that, we'd have to be more alert to what's happening and (establishing) who the instigators were. It's not always the guy who gets sent off that is the instigator.
'There's nobody saying that the game should not be tough and hard. But a lot of the stuff that's happening, like, there's diving going on, which can certainly get guys sent off and is completely alien to the game that we all love.
'Certainly, players will have to take responsibility for their actions. There's so much action happening on and off the ball that there needs to be accountability, especially from the players, for instigating particular situations and trying to get players red-carded.
'There was another incident in that game last Sunday where there was a headbutt thrown in front of the linesman and he wasn't that far away from it. The officials need to man up and deal with those situations.'
O'Connor also supports the use of replays assisting officials in verifying scores like Dublin's 'ghost goal" against Wexford in Parnell Park last Saturday. 'It wasn't a goal, in fairness. It could be brought in to help the referee in that situation. I know there are seven officials on the pitch, but it's not always easy at times. It's a split-second decision from the referee.'
As the GAA has written to counties to desist from breaching match regulations and adhere to the number of officials allowed on the sidelines, O'Connor endorses managers watching games from the stands. To compensate, he proposes the return of the running selector, a role which was disbanded in 2021.
'In my view, and I'll go back to my own time as a referee, I wouldn't have any officials on the sideline. I would have them all up on the stand. Like in rugby, you'll see all the top officials are in the stand. They do communicate with the guy on the sideline, alright.
'I know there's a fourth official on the sideline and he has his hands full at times trying to deal with all these managers and that. I suppose the subs are in the stand now, which is a help. I think there is a responsibility on the managers to control their actions. And if I had the power to do it, on my side of things, I would have them all seated in the stand.
'If there was moves to be made, I would implement the runner again, but there should be really only one person from each side on the sideline except for the hurley carriers at each corner of the pitch. There's nothing you can do about that. Hurleys do get broken.'