Dispense with all refs now – we only need a scorekeeper

THE now former Westmeath referee James McGrath produced one of the finest toythrowing exhibitions of our time this week.

He dispensed with modesty as he greeted the news that he would not be taking charge of Sunday week’s All-Ireland final by unloading both barrels.

In a GAA society where humility is king, here was a man who was not shy of putting a valuation on his self worth.

‘Choose me or lose me,’ he chimed, like a rapper.

And even by the time he had toned it down for Marty Morrissey, he hardly lavished James Owens, who beat him to the whistle for final, only going as far as suggesting he was ‘capable.’

There are some who might perceive McGrath (below) as having too much of an ego for this refereeing lark, but if that is the case it is hard to blame him.

After all, by blowing for just 12 frees in the All-Ireland quarterfinal meeting of Kilkenny and Limerick, it was deemed that he had facilitated an epic.

That is how hurling rolls, the less the referee pays heed to the rulebook, the better he is adjudged to have played.

There was a baffling sequence of play last Sunday, where Galway’s Pádraic Mannion was fouled three times by two Clare opponents, twice brought to ground in the process and was still not awarded a free by referee Fergal Horgan.

There are people out there who will tell you that was great refereeing.

McGrath may have started a trend by stepping down, and the rest might be better off if they joined him.

Because having a referee in a game this pure is a stain on the game.

All that is needed is someone to keep score.