NEWS ROUND-UP:GAA PRESIDENT Christy Cooney has appealed to the media to park the controversy surrounding under-fire referee Martin Sludden, and allow the Tyrone official to get on with his life.
Sludden was at the centre of a sensational end to the Leinster SFC final, when he incorrectly awarded a stoppage-time goal which gave Meath a narrow win over Louth.
“I hope he is allowed to move on and concentrate on future refereeing assignments without disruption or distraction,” said Cooney.
Writing in his programme notes for the All-Ireland quarter-finals, Cooney said recruitment of match officials is currently subjected to an unprecedented level of attention.
“Martin Sludden’s role in the Leinster final has been well documented, and at this stage it needs to be pointed out that he held his hands up and admitted his mistake after that match.
“I would like to laud the role that our referees play in our games and stress that without them, our games simply wouldn’t take place.
“It goes without saying that we strive for optimum performance levels and consistency with all our match officials, and I stress that never before has more attention to detail been applied to the recruitment, training and assessment of our men in black.”
Cooney added: “However, the indisputable fact is that human errors are made by our referees, just as they are by players on the field of play and managers and coaches on the sideline.”
Meanwhile, Limerick senior football manager Mickey Ned O’Sullivan has admitted his future in charge of the team “is up in the air”.
This year marked a fifth season in charge for the former Kerry captain, whose latest term of office expired with the recent All-Ireland SFC qualifier against Cork.
The Shannonsiders have been hugely competitive in recent seasons and desperately unlucky in the 2009 and 2010 Munster finals, against Cork and Kerry respectively.
“It isn’t about me making my mind up,” said O’Sullivan last night. “We have a different situation. We have a management team involving about 11 people and it’s going to be a collective decision. Our term is up.
“It’s up to the county board, whoever they appoint. We have to discuss between ourselves whether we’re going forward. We also want to talk to the players and the county board. At the moment, it’s all up in the air.”
Tyrone had a comprehensive victory against Leitrim in Sunday’s All-Ireland women’s senior football championship round-one qualifier at Shannon Gaels, Cavan.
The Ulster side, provincial champions in 2009, won the game by 6-22 to 2-9 as Lynda and Cathy Donnelly scored two each.
Tyrone will be joined in today’s round-two qualifier draw by Kildare, who cruised to a 4-13 to 1-9 victory against Down at Fingallians, Swords, on Saturday
The remaining round-one qualifiers are down for decision today in Banagher as Kerry take on Mayo (2.30pm) and Tipperary play Meath (4.15pm).
