Wicklow manager fills in as umpire due to shortage

THE lack of independent match umpires attending important games in Wicklow came to light again last weekend with several games affected and with the county football manager John Evans having to take a position at a post in Joule Park Aughrim for the IFC clash of Ballymanus and Rathnew.

It was reported that no independent umpires were available for the Senior hurling clash of Éire Óg and St Patrick’s in recent weeks.

Nor were there any present for the IFC clash of Dunlavin and Stratford-Grangecon in Baltinglass on Sunday evening and there were also issues reported in Blessington and Arklow.

The rule of thumb is that the referee must provide umpires for the match at which he is officiating. However, the revoking of match passes for umpires by last year’s administration following the alleged abuse of the privilege at a game has meant that an umpire receives no reward for his time spent on a post.

Add to this the possibility of an umpire becoming embroiled in a controversy and being on the receiving end of strong criticism or verbal abuse and it’s not hard to understand why the prospect of standing on a post for a match has become less appealing than it might have once been.

The danger with having no independent umpires at key games is obvious and as the championships at all grades begin to gather pace and momentum it will become even more important for referees to provide such individuals and it would not be a bad move for his year’s County Board to look at reinstating the match passes for these volunteers.

Elsewhere, the Éire Óg Greystones and Barndarrig Junior hurling teams were left frustrated last week when no referee showed up to officiate at their championship game. The game was played with a local man taking charge but the result is not likely to stand.