Donal Og Cusack slams hurling umpires and linesmen as he calls for more support for ‘brave’ referees

DONAL OG Cusack believes hurling referees are not being given enough support by their umpires and linesmen.

Cusack claimed a person would have to be ‘very brave’ to be a hurling referee as he spoke on The Sunday Game.

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The pundit highlighted many officiating incidents in the Tipperary vs Waterford and Galway vs Wexford matches over the weekend.

Cusack said: “You’d want to be a very brave person to be a hurling referee.

“But because of the challenges they have — there’s so much going on — they need their umpires on the ball, which they’re not in general, and also their linesmen helping them, and very often, they’re not doing that either.”

The panel looked at a ‘bizarre incident’ where referee James Owens ran across the face of goal as a penalty was being struck and another where umpires in the Wexford game each gave a different decision for a point being scored.

Cusack also criticised a messy restart in the match and the ‘wrong decision’ of Conor Cooney being shown a yellow card in the other game.

He stated: “We don’t think referees are getting the help from their umpires and linesmen.”

Former Wexford camogie star Ursula Jacob added: “Human error can happen, mistakes can happen but the onus and the burden of responsibility shouldn’t be just on the referee.

“It’s about the team of officials.

“A management team works together, a group of players work together, so a team of officials have to do the same. That’s just to support the referee to make the best decisions possible.”

Fans were left in disbelief by the penalty incident with Owens and couldn’t believe it wasn’t retaken.

One said: “How was that goal allowed stand? Ref in the square in front of the keeper? Bonkers!”

Brendan posted: “If the @officialgaa admin can’t see what’s wrong here then the game is gone @TheSundayGame”

Brian said: “How in the name of God are you showing this without noting the referee running across the eyeline of the goalkeeper as the penalty is taken?”

Gareth echoed: “Ref causally running across the goal keeper” while another said: “I’ve seen it all now!!

“James Owens, a Wexford man, has literally run across infront of Barry Hogan as a penalty is taken in the first few minutes of a game!

“What the f*** was he at? Surely this should have been taken again?”

Mike joked: “@GardaTraffic I have video footage of James Owens jaywalking in Walsh Park this evening below.”