Neutral thoughts on Brian Galvin reffing the All-Ireland

tcrilly52

What are you're thoughts on Brian Galvin as the chosen ref for this years All-Ireland?

I for one think he will give anything 50/50 to kilkenny and thats no disrespect or bias towards Tipp on my behalf.

Early in the Munster final against Waterford before Tipp came well out on top he was giving everything he possibly could to Waterford .

I say this as a neutral and emphasise this is NOT a Kilkenny or Tipperary bashing thread, Just want to hear your thoughts?

Whiplash85

tcrilly52 wrote: »

What are you're thoughts on Brian Galvin as the chosen ref for this years All-Ireland?

I for one think he will give anything 50/50 to kilkenny and thats no disrespect or bias towards Tipp on my behalf.

Early in the Munster final against Waterford before Tipp came well out on top he was giving everything he possibly could to Waterford .

I say this as a neutral and emphasise this is NOT a Kilkenny or Tipperary bashing thread, Just want to hear your thoughts?

Brian Gavin is to Kilkenny what Howard Webb was to Man Utd.

The_Kew_Tour

Will do his best to play for draw first

Gentleman Off The Pitch

Whiplash85 wrote: »

Brian Gavin is to Kilkenny what Howard Webb was to Man Utd.

A thread requesting neutral opinions and the first reply is from a hard of reading Tipp man

lukin

Definitely a positive appointment for Kilkenny. Gavin simply loves them.
Sure didn't he let Tommy Walsh split his nose in the 2011 AI final and then he apologised to Tommy afterwards for getting in the way of his hurley. (http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/gavin-laughs-off-swipe-accident-26768428.html).
You couldn't make it up.

Akrasia

lukin wrote: »

Definitely a positive appointment for Kilkenny. Gavin simply loves them.
Sure didn't he let Tommy Walsh split his nose in the 2011 AI final and then he apologised to Tommy afterwards for getting in the way of his hurley. (http://www.independent.ie/sport/hurling/gavin-laughs-off-swipe-accident-26768428.html).
You couldn't make it up.

Whatever about bias, he sure knows how to stifle any chance of a decent free flowing game.

mountgomery burns

Akrasia wrote: »

Whatever about bias, he sure knows how to stifle any chance of a decent free flowing game.

All the man does it let the play go. Which suits Kilkenny, but to be honest I don't buy the "he hates Tipp" lark. For example, I don't think Tipp lost the all ireland replay in 2014 or the 2011 game because of Brian Gavin. If they're the better team on Sunday they will win, that should be the end of the referee discussion.

DellyBelly

I'm always surprised he get's the big games. No offence to the man but he's pretty fat and does not look fit. I don't know how he keeps up with the pace of the game for 70 minutes. I always think there should be 2 referee's in a hurling match anyway due to the speed of the game...

letsseehere14

He doesn't look up to these games fitness wise and Kilkenny seem to come out on top of a lot of his decisions. Kilkenny v Waterford replay match he was on the sideline. The final line ball just before Waterfords last minute free looked to me a clear Waterford ball, he told the ref to throw it in between them, would Gleeson have had a crack? (They got the free in the end) So maybe it is not an apparent bias against Tipp but more of a, in intense matches, sway towards the historically dominant team.

keeponhurling

Only 3 of the last 13 All-Ireland finals have been reffed by Munster men
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/hurling/munster-referees-disenchanted-over-all-ireland-hurling-final-appointments-417436.html
So Leinster seems to be where it's at.

Johnny Ryan, Fergal Horgan, John Sexton etc. were overlooked, while Gavin is on his 3rd or 4th All-Ireland final.

James Woodlock points out that ""I'd say Kilkenny are happy enough with the referee but Tipperary are apprehensive."
Out of 11 All-Ireland finals won by Cody, 10 were reffed by Leinster men apparently. Probably a coincidence, but still quite a statistic.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/former-tipp-star-referee-brian-gavin-cant-take-dictatorship-from-the-sideline-752286.html

adrian522

What difference does the province of a ref make? Do refs favour a team because they are from a certain province?

skywanderer

Where is he from? Where does he work? Where does he live? As we have seen in Football a referees place of birth means absolutely nothing.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/martin-breheny-officials-should-not-be-appointed-for-big-games-involving-the-county-where-they-work-35009164.html

We have seen Dublin benefit enormously in recent years from Joe McQuillan a Cavan referee living and working in Dublin who was responsible for them winning the 2011 and 2013 All-Ireland single handedly robbing both Mayo and Kerry in the process. In 2012 his actions were despicable in how he gave Dublin every single opportunity against Mayo in the 2012 Semi-Final but the Mayo team stood solid against 16 man Dublin.

Sundays performance by David Gough was another Hatchet job by the GAA in which saw Kerry completely robbed, David Gough awarded Dublin several dubious scorable frees whilst denying Kerry perfectly legitimate frees.

All the media attention is about the Olympic Council of Ireland but it is the GAA which is corrupt to the core and the GAA have an agenda to keep both Dublin and Kilkenny winning at all costs.

Stationmaster

skywanderer wrote: »

Where is he from? Where does he work? Where does he live? As we have seen in Football a referees place of birth means absolutely nothing.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/martin-breheny-officials-should-not-be-appointed-for-big-games-involving-the-county-where-they-work-35009164.html

We have seen Dublin benefit enormously in recent years from Joe McQuillan a Cavan referee living and working in Dublin who was responsible for them winning the 2011 and 2013 All-Ireland single handedly robbing both Mayo and Kerry in the process. In 2012 his actions were despicable in how he gave Dublin every single opportunity against Mayo in the 2012 Semi-Final but the Mayo team stood solid against 16 man Dublin.

Sundays performance by David Gough was another Hatchet job by the GAA in which saw Kerry completely robbed, David Gough awarded Dublin several dubious scorable frees whilst denying Kerry perfectly legitimate frees.

All the media attention is about the Olympic Council of Ireland but it is the GAA which is corrupt to the core and the GAA have an agenda to keep both Dublin and Kilkenny winning at all costs.

Mother of god, but that is some pile of ****e you've put up there.

As a Clareman, I would love nothing more than someone else to stop Kilkenny winning all around them. But to insinuate that one of the greatest hurling teams we have ever seen only won because of 'corruption' is ridiculous. Were you looking for the 'off the wall conspirency' thread by any chance?

randd1

mountgomery burns wrote: »

All the man does it let the play go. Which suits Kilkenny, but to be honest I don't buy the "he hates Tipp" lark. For example, I don't think Tipp lost the all ireland replay in 2014 or the 2011 game because of Brian Gavin. If they're the better team on Sunday they will win, that should be the end of the referee discussion.

He also gave Tipp a penalty in 2014 when Bonnar tripped himself up when no-one touched him at all, and in every Tipp/Kilkenny game he's reffed he's let Tipp get away with as much as Kilkenny, it's just Kilkenny had the better capacity to to eke out a win.

Very biased to Kilkenny so he is.

allthedoyles

As a neutral I believe he's the wrong choice and either of the two James's should be ahead of him .

But now that he is the referee I wish him the best and hope we are not discussing him next Sunday evening .

Salrub

Think he seems to get respect from all players as in they seem to accept his decisions most of the time. Seems to let the game flow which is good but needs to pull for frees for wild strikes which sometimes he doesn't bother to

thesultan

Decent ref, second probably to Owens at the minute

dirtyden

Salrub wrote: »

Think he seems to get respect from all players as in they seem to accept his decisions most of the time. Seems to let the game flow which is good but needs to pull for frees for wild strikes which sometimes he doesn't bother to

Agree with this. He seems to have a good rapport with all teams, and I think most players enjoy his style of refereeing. His main problem is he simply can't keep up with play and tends to give a lot of decisions from 30 or 40 yards away.

Your on a hiding to nothing reffing a gaa game though as you could have had a brilliant game and there would still be a few people convinced you were the biggest bollix of all time.

danganabu

dirtyden wrote: »

A His main problem is he simply can't keep up with play and tends to give a lot of decisions from 30 or 40 yards away.

That's it in a nutshell, he actually failed the fitness test last year but was allowed to do it again, he clearly has friends in high places and is very well gotten. He has a suspension for what I have been told was a vicious verbal attack on a fellow referee quashed so he could referee KK v Waterford last year.

I remember in the aftermath of the 2013 final both sets of fans were fuming with him but I don't for a second think he sets out to favour one team or another, just like everyone in the game from management to players to officials he will make mistakes.

I'm not neutral though so reserve the right to change my opinion at 5pm Sunday evening

mountgomery burns

randd1 wrote: »

He also gave Tipp a penalty in 2014 when Bonnar tripped himself up when no-one touched him at all, and in every Tipp/Kilkenny game he's reffed he's let Tipp get away with as much as Kilkenny, it's just Kilkenny had the better capacity to to eke out a win.

Very biased to Kilkenny so he is.

I think Kilkenny foul more to be honest. I understand that won't be popular with ye but it's just what I see.

Don't think he's biased at all though.

tcrilly52

danganabu wrote: »

That's it in a nutshell, he actually failed the fitness test last year but was allowed to do it again, he clearly has friends in high places and is very well gotten. He has a suspension for what I have been told was a vicious verbal attack on a fellow referee quashed so he could referee KK v Waterford last year.

I remember in the aftermath of the 2013 final both sets of fans were fuming with him but I don't for a second think he sets out to favour one team or another, just like everyone in the game from management to players to officials he will make mistakes.

I'm not neutral though so reserve the right to change my opinion at 5pm Sunday evening

great replies guys, and yeah i didnt know he failed a fitness test?

Biloxi Blues

skywanderer wrote: »

Where is he from? Where does he work? Where does he live? As we have seen in Football a referees place of birth means absolutely nothing.

We have seen Dublin benefit enormously in recent years from Joe McQuillan a Cavan referee living and working in Dublin who was responsible for them winning the 2011 and 2013 All-Ireland single handedly robbing both Mayo and Kerry in the process. In 2012 his actions were despicable in how he gave Dublin every single opportunity against Mayo in the 2012 Semi-Final but the Mayo team stood solid against 16 man Dublin.

Sundays performance by David Gough was another Hatchet job by the GAA in which saw Kerry completely robbed, David Gough awarded Dublin several dubious scorable frees whilst denying Kerry perfectly legitimate frees.

All the media attention is about the Olympic Council of Ireland but it is the GAA which is corrupt to the core and the GAA have an agenda to keep both Dublin and Kilkenny winning at all costs.

The likes of Marty Duffy, Pádraig Hughes and Cormac Reilly (to name just a few) must have holiday homes in Kerry or rent the tent out for the Rose of Tralee judging by the number of teams they've screwed over to Kerry's benefit over the years. Funnily enough, not a peep out of Kerry about them but whenever they lose it's tinfoil hat time . And they claim to never whinge in Kerry, oh no, not them at all at all at all, no sireee!

Biloxi Blues

mountgomery burns wrote: »

I think Kilkenny foul more to be honest. I understand that won't be popular with ye but it's just what I see.

Don't think he's biased at all though.

I wouldn't call Gavin biased either, just incompetent and unfit (in more ways than one) to referee the final. Will let the things that Kilkenny have worked on like the taps on the elbow with the hurley or arm-holding go because Cody doesn't want certain rules in the rulebook to be enforced and knows the likes of Gavin will let them off. He has the excuse that he mightn't see them because he's usually not within 50 yards of the play anyway because he's at least 5 stone overweight.

keeponhurling

It certainly would make you wonder what type of fitness tests they have, if a man like Gavin can pass it.

There is no way a man of that physique would even be considered to play for an inter-county hurling team, or indeed even a senior club team.

Yet he is reffing the All-Ireland senior final again. If he is indeed the best choice, then it doesn't say much for the standard of other referees, despite their physical advantages.

buck65

As a Clareman I wouldn't be happy with Gavin as a ref either. I remember in the drawn final 2013 we were very unhappy with him at half time, spoke to a few Cork and neutral fans too and they felt he kept Cork in the game.

I remember David McInerney coming out with the ball and got a belt on the hand - he stood up expecting the free, saw there wasn't one and went to play the ball - he was subsequently penalised for steps!

Gavin was no more than 6 metres away at the time.

In the 2nd half he did improve and allowed us an extra 45 seconds to draw the game but this is hardly fair to Cork..

Against Waterford I noticed Cody jawing away at him too when the pressure was on, he stood there like a sheep almost nodding in agreement. Tipp are right to feel apprehensive, his reffing style (inconsistent, let's things go, can't keep up) may suit Kilkenny's agressive style more, Tipp need to be intense and agressive in the extreme on Sunday because Gavin will not protect them.

adrian522

Can't believe the obsession with referees on here and among fans in general, before, during and after games. All utterly convinced that the ref is against them.

Bizarre stuff.

Biloxi Blues

buck65 wrote: »

As a Clareman I wouldn't be happy with Gavin as a ref either. I remember in the drawn final 2013 we were very unhappy with him at half time, spoke to a few Cork and neutral fans too and they felt he kept Cork in the game.

As a Clareman, you have need to thank Gavin not whine about him. He conjured up phantom time out of nowhere to give the worst team to win an All Ireland this century enough time to equalise against the worst team to reach an All Ireland final this century. That game was over but Gavin ,ultimateley, won the All Ireland for Clare.

buck65

Biloxi Blues wrote: »

As a Clareman, you have need to thank Gavin not whine about him. He conjured up phantom time out of nowhere to give the worst team to win an All Ireland this century enough time to equalise against the worst team to reach an All Ireland final this century. That game was over but Gavin ,ultimateley, won the All Ireland for Clare.

I just read some of your other posts and realise you're a class A troll when it comes to GAA. So I won't justify your post beyond this.

buck65

adrian522 wrote: »

Can't believe the obsession with referees on here and among fans in general, before, during and after games. All utterly convinced that the ref is against them.

Bizarre stuff.

No, this is about Brian Gavin's refereeing in particular and his apparent inability to keep up with and ref games properly. There are examples listed above about games where he struggled. This is a good topic actually.

Biloxi Blues

buck65 wrote: »

I just read some of your other posts and realise you're a class A troll when it comes to GAA. So I won't justify your post beyond this.

I've just read your abusive PM and some of your one-eyed posts and realised that you're a poor troll but I'll continue to put you back in your box.

buck65

Biloxi Blues wrote: »

I've just read your abusive PM and some of your one-eyed posts and realised that you're a poor troll but I'll continue to put you back in your box.

Good man , stick to the topic and get over your biases.

toxicity234

keeponhurling wrote: »

Only 3 of the last 13 All-Ireland finals have been reffed by Munster men
http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/hurling/munster-referees-disenchanted-over-all-ireland-hurling-final-appointments-417436.html
So Leinster seems to be where it's at.

Johnny Ryan, Fergal Horgan, John Sexton etc. were overlooked, while Gavin is on his 3rd or 4th All-Ireland final.

James Woodlock points out that ""I'd say Kilkenny are happy enough with the referee but Tipperary are apprehensive."
Out of 11 All-Ireland finals won by Cody, 10 were reffed by Leinster men apparently. Probably a coincidence, but still quite a statistic.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/former-tipp-star-referee-brian-gavin-cant-take-dictatorship-from-the-sideline-752286.html

John Sexton Messed up a club final and thank god he never got an All ireland.
Lots of Ref are pull up for every little thing, At least Gavin will let it go.

Did Kilkenny complain when Galway corner back tried to removed a Kilkenny man head and got a yellow card last year.

Munster lads give out about refereeing. When Munster Ref just are not good enough to do the job.

adrian522

buck65 wrote: »

No, this is about Brian Gavin's refereeing in particular and his apparent inability to keep up with and ref games properly. There are examples listed above about games where he struggled. This is a good topic actually.

It's not really. Read any game thread, or post game thread and 90% of the posts are about the ref.

If fans had their way there would be nothing but frees.

On his fitness, fair enough but nobody is going to be fit enough to keep up with the play given how fast and far he ball can travel.

Also I don't remember any such comments about Barry Kelly's fitness even though he has obviously put on a lot of weight in the last year or 2.

The examples listed above are of fans who have gripes not of "games where he struggled".

There hasn't been a single referring performance I can think of where somebody didn't have a complaint.

For my money Gavin is as good a ref as there is out there. He is never going to get every decision right but seems to understand that sometimes it's better to let play go on than whistle every few seconds.

buck65

Ok that's your opinion, fair enough. There is obviously enough concern about Gavin reffing the final hereabouts that this thread exists.
I think he is very capable of getting things wrong and letting too much go and was concerned by his lack of reaction to Brian Cody vs Waterford.
If Barry Kelly was reffing we would be hearing about it from Cody and the Kilkenny fans but Gavin could be seen as the opposite.
It is no harm to have a discussion about a ref and even refs themselves may have habits or leanings that they are unaware of.

adrian522

buck65 wrote: »

Ok that's your opinion, fair enough. There is obviously enough concern about Gavin reffing the final hereabouts that this thread exists.

My point is that the fact that this thread exists is more of a reflection on the users of this forum and GAA fans in general than it is on the referee.

No matter who was reffing the game somebody would be complaining about it. No matter how well or badly he does on Sunday people will be complaining. Those people will be fans of the team that loses. They will be blaming the ref for the fact that they lost.

For example point me to the last All Ireland final where you think the ref did a good job. I'll point you to several pages of people complaining about his decisions.

buck65

OK first off I'm not from either county, and also it is not only GAA people that concentrate on refs, rugby for sure and probably soccer too.

citykat

mountgomery burns wrote: »

I think Kilkenny foul more to be honest. I understand that won't be popular with ye but it's just what I see.

Don't think he's biased at all though.

Nobody fouls more than De Burca or Gleeson. In fact, if the cats manage to get over the line Sunday, they should invite De Burca along as a special guest for the homecoming, Monday night. No other non Kilkenny man has done as much to get us to the AI.

keeponhurling

adrian522 wrote: »

Can't believe the obsession with referees on here and among fans in general, before, during and after games. All utterly convinced that the ref is against them.

Bizarre stuff.

I do understand your point, and generally too many resort to blaming referees when they lose.

However we are discussing it before the match. A man who is so unfit he will always be quite far behind the play has been selected for the biggest game in the hurling calendar.

It may well be the correct decision, but certainly it is worthy of discussion . Most posters are neutral in this thread it seems.

citykat

Biloxi Blues wrote: »

Will let the things that Kilkenny have worked on like the taps on the elbow with the hurley or arm-holding go because Cody doesn't want certain rules in the rulebook to be enforced and knows the likes of Gavin will let them off.

This is something that only a hurling ignoramus could argue. Anybody that thinks an inter county hurling team is 'working' on this kind of thing in the lead up to an All Ireland knows nothing about the sport.

mountgomery burns

citykat wrote: »

Nobody fouls more than De Burca or Gleeson. In fact, if the cats manage to get over the line Sunday, they should invite De Burca along as a special guest for the homecoming, Monday night. No other non Kilkenny man has done as much to get us to the AI.

And if I was from Tipp nobody would foul more than Paudie Maher and Cathal Barrett. I know your game at this stage.

mountgomery burns

toxicity234 wrote: »

John Sexton Messed up a club final and thank god he never got an All ireland.
Lots of Ref are pull up for every little thing, At least Gavin will let it go.

Did Kilkenny complain when Galway corner back tried to removed a Kilkenny man head and got a yellow card last year.

Munster lads give out about refereeing. When Munster Ref just are not good enough to do the job.

Yes they did complain and I take it you weren't at the semi final replay when a large number of them booed McGrath out of the stadium having won the match. There was no Leinster men supporting Leinster men that day and I'd say your provincial allegiance is a one way street. Particularly when it comes to referees from Westmeath anyway!!

citykat

buck65 wrote: »

Ok that's your opinion, fair enough. There is obviously enough concern about Gavin reffing the final hereabouts that this thread exists.

FFS. Threads are started for the most trivial of reasons, this thread included.

buck65 wrote: »

It is no harm to have a discussion about a ref and even refs themselves may have habits or leanings that they are unaware of.

It's absolutely ridiculous to critique somebody's performance prior to the fact. By all means once that performance has been given.

citykat

mountgomery burns wrote: »

I know your game at this stage.

You certainly do. It's at 3.30 on Sunday.

Biloxi Blues

citykat wrote: »

This is something that only a hurling ignoramus could argue. Anybody that thinks an inter county hurling team is 'working' on this kind of thing in the lead up to an All Ireland knows nothing about the sport.

When did I say that Kilkenny only started now on the snakiness that they know Gavin will let them away with - they've been doing it for years! Seems that it's only Kilkenny posters who are in praise of Gavin - funny that. Oh, and less of the personal abuse, please.

citykat

Biloxi Blues wrote: »

When did I say that Kilkenny only started now on the snakiness that they know Gavin will let them away with - they've been doing it for years! Seems that it's only Kilkenny posters who are in praise of Gavin - funny that. Oh, and less of the personal abuse, please.

Calling out ignorance isn't personal. As for 'snakiness' again, more ignorance.

Dick phelan

Bad choice imo, far to inconsistent as a ref, i'm all for letting the game flow but you can't be blowing up for something one minute and then the next play away which is what Gavin does constantly, Also if you can't keep up with the pace of the game you shouldn't be ref, you can't be making decisions from miles away.

TCDStudent1

Thought he was very good today.

corny

Anyone else think the linesmen got every line ball decision wrong?

Realt Dearg Sec

TCDStudent1 wrote: »

Thought he was very good today.

He was excellent. Will that stop lads whinging about him? Will it ****.

skywanderer

I wonder is this the first All-Ireland where no card was shown to either team?

Road-Hog

skywanderer wrote: »

Where is he from? Where does he work? Where does he live? As we have seen in Football a referees place of birth means absolutely nothing.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/martin-breheny-officials-should-not-be-appointed-for-big-games-involving-the-county-where-they-work-35009164.html

We have seen Dublin benefit enormously in recent years from Joe McQuillan a Cavan referee living and working in Dublin who was responsible for them winning the 2011 and 2013 All-Ireland single handedly robbing both Mayo and Kerry in the process. In 2012 his actions were despicable in how he gave Dublin every single opportunity against Mayo in the 2012 Semi-Final but the Mayo team stood solid against 16 man Dublin.

Sundays performance by David Gough was another Hatchet job by the GAA in which saw Kerry completely robbed, David Gough awarded Dublin several dubious scorable frees whilst denying Kerry perfectly legitimate frees.

All the media attention is about the Olympic Council of Ireland but it is the GAA which is corrupt to the core and the GAA have an agenda to keep both Dublin and Kilkenny winning at all costs.

Your last paragraph would suggest you must be on something? What an utterly stupid moronic assertion