MUDDLE IN THE MIDDLE

'Let it flow' brigade are not helping referees

- KARL O'KANE

THE pressure applied by the 'let it flow' lobby can have grave consequences for players as last weekend's All-Ireland Camogie Final showed.

It's a big lobby admittedly, but the problem is that everyone has a different view as to where they feel the line should be drawn.

And in the end, only one person can decide in any given game.

It's a delicate and nearly impossible task for referees when it comes to the biggest games with the most spotlight on them.

Let too much go and players' frustrations grow, which can lead to flashpoints.

Last Sunday's Galway/Cork All-Ireland Camogie Final was a seriously intense battle with plenty of needle.

There were late hits and bits of verbals here and there. Players were constantly hunting in packs to put opponents under severe pressure.

On the Sunday Game, Waterford camogie player Niamh Rockett explained the dilemma of the referee and the game very well:

"No-one wants to be looking at a game that's going into a free-taking competition," said Rockett.

"A spread of scorers for Cork and a spread of scorers for Galway. It wasn't just relying on Amy O'Connor and Saoirse McCarthy from Cork and Carrie Dolan to shoot the lights out.