CORK legend Ben O’Connor reckons hurling is being destroyed by the manner in which the game is now officiated.
However, the three-time All-Ireland SHC winner expressed some sympathy for referees as he took aim at their superiors.
O’Connor cited several incidents from last weekend’s National League fixtures while venting his frustration.
He said: “The standard of refereeing at the moment is cat. I actually think it’s ruining our game.”
In his side’s defeat to Clare, Limerick’s Diarmaid Byrnes was sent off following a challenge on Tony Kelly that sparked a melee involving players from both teams.
But O’Connor insisted: “I couldn’t see anything in it anyway. Diarmaid Byrnes gave away a free doing exactly what you’d ask a player to do, which is to get your leg in over the ball and get your body in.
“He did that, the Clare fella threw himself down on the ground as if he was shot – there must have been a sniper above in the stand – and next they were pushing and shoving.
“I saw no slap being thrown and Diarmaid Byrnes got a red card.”
Kelly admitted that he was fortunate to still be on the pitch after he unintentionally struck Adam English, leaving the Limerick player with a gash on his forehead.
And O’Connor said: “In fairness to Adam English, he got up straight away when he got the tap and there wasn’t a word out of him. What made it look worse was the drop of blood.
“He was turning fast, the hurley was up and it just happened to hit Adam English in the helmet. That game was ruined if Tony Kelly was sent off.”
Despite suggestions that Kilkenny’s Cian Kenny should have been dismissed for a high tackle on Ciarán Joyce in the Cats’ loss to Cork, O’Connor is adamant that it was not worthy of a red card.
He said: “He did try to hit him on the shoulder. He didn’t go in to try and drive into his chest. I just think it’s all timing and I think referees are under too much pressure from fellas above in the stand.”
O’Connor was irked nonetheless by the temporary substitution of Harry Shine early in the game.
The Newtownshandrum man added: “The linesman went into the field and took the Kilkenny corner-forward off because he had a cut on his knee and he was bleeding.
“That corner-forward was off for about six minutes and that could have been the time when that corner-forward got three balls into his hand and got three goals – you just don’t know. Just because there was a drop of blood flowing from his knee.”
O’Connor called on advisors who assess the performances of referees to allow for the application of ‘common sense’ when officiating.
He said: “If we’re on about promoting hurling, fellas are mad for a bit of activity, a bit of a physical battle. I think we have to stop players diving and looking for handy frees.
“And I think we have to get off the referees’ backs – as in, the fella above in the stand with his book, ticking the box, ‘Oh, he gave a free for that, that’s perfect, he didn’t give a free for that…’
“Let the referee go away and referee the match whatever way he thinks and then you’ll have people watching the game.
“You see Americans who are coming to watch matches and they’re fascinated with how fast and how physical it is.
“There’s no one getting badly hurt. That’s how you promote the game – by letting the game flow and don’t be blowing up for frees.”
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Meanwhile, O’Connor backed youngster Diarmuid Healy to kick on after he marked his first senior start for Cork with a man-of-the-match display against Kilkenny.
The wing-forward was an All-Ireland Under-20 winner in 2023 as part of a Rebels side managed by O’Connor.
The former Cork skipper said: “He’s there now to be shot at and fellas will be watching him. Anyone marking him the next day will be seeing what are his faults or what can they do to stop him.
“From now on, the work will definitely get a bit harder but he’s well up to it.”
*BEN O’CONNOR and twin brother Jerry will be profiled on the latest episode of Laochra Gael, which airs tomorrow night on TG4 at 9.30pm.