Two refs good, miked up refs better

JOHN COSTELLO’S annual report this week grabbed the headlines, but as ever the Dublin CEO made a lot of sense.

Not least in his call for two referees to be trialled in pre-season competitions.

There may be issues, not least with differing styles but the bottom line is that the intensity and speed of the modern game is too much for one official.

Some will complain that two referees is impractical at club level, but universal compliance is not required.

In terms of presenting a challenge to match officials, there is no comparison between a fullblooded 70-minute intercounty game and a 60-minute club one.

My only quibble with Costello’s (left) proposal is that there is no point in trialling such an important initiative in irrelevant preseason competitions where intensity levels are low.

Two referees should be in place on a trial basis for the 2019 Allianz Leagues.

Referees should also be ‘miked up’ for all live TV games. It would minimise player dissent and ensure that referees would now have to articulate their reason for calling a foul.