9 hours ago
Louth boss Brennan on not getting the rub of the green with referee decisions
Ger Brennan says he's twice seen his Louth outfit on the receiving end of decisions against sides - but he's confident that won't happen against Donegal at Ballybofey tomorrow with Barry Cassidy in charge.
Derry official Cassidy will take charge of the MacCumhaill Park All-Ireland preliminary quarter-final tie with the winner going to Croke Park next weekend and the loser's season over.
Brennan, speaking to LMFM, outlined that Louth's Division 2 loss to Donegal last year at Ballyshannon and their All-Ireland group stage defeat by Kerry at Portlaoise later that season were games he felt the Wee County were hard done by.
The match official for the Donegal game was Roscommon's Paddy Neilan, while the Kerry game was refereed by Conor Lane of Cork.
'I certainly rarely would whinge about referee's decisions as players have to be accountable for their own errors first and foremost and referees are only human,' said Brennan.
'There were certainly a lot of hometown decisions awarded in that league game in Ballyshannon last year.
'In looking towards this game in Ballybofey, in one way it's interesting that a Derry referee has been appointed to look after the game.
'But when I heard it's Barry Cassidy, you are confident with someone with Barry Cassidy's experience that he is not going to be overawed consciously or subconsciously by the Ballybofey crowd and that he will give Louth a fair crack of the whip.
'Again, I think I have a bit of credit built up in the bank over the last couple of seasons by not giving out about referees.
'When Louth played Kerry last year in the group stages of the All-Ireland, we were competitive.
'We were pushing hard and it's almost as if referees subconsciously - and people outside the group of Louth senior footballers - they can't believe that Louth are being so competitive and this shouldn't happen.
'And all of a sudden some big game decisions are going against you, or the opposition are getting away with rougher challenges, which Louth players are being punished for.
'I suppose I've seen that on two occasions in particular in my time so far with Louth, last year with Kerry in the group stages of the All-Ireland and certainly in the second half last year in Ballyshannon.
'But again, happy to see you have someone with Barry Cassidy's experience, that he is not going to be influenced by the Donegal sideline and Donegal supporters and that he's going to give Louth and the Donegal players a fair crack of the whip.'
