Referee tensions eased after open meeting

POOR communication has been blamed for the embarrassing situation that resulted in two referees turning up for the SFL Division 1A final replay between AGB and Tinahely that resulted in a tense stand-off between both officials in Ballinakill.

A large number of Wicklow referees gathered in Aughrim community grounds last Thursday night to discuss that incident and to try and plan a way forward after a difficult year for the men in black in the county.

It is understood that no blame was apportioned to either Darragh Byrne or Eugene O‘Brien for the mix up that followed the official match referee Stephen Fagan being unable to attend the game, and that a full and frank discussion was held on the night between all relevant parties in an effort to iron out any difficulties and ease tensions among the group.

The meeting was chaired by Kieron Kenny and it is understood that it was accepted that both men were trying to their best to ensure that the game would go ahead and that a failure of communication caused the difficulty.