Offaly GAA clubs urged to replace mentors who abuse referees

MENTORS who abuse referees should be removed from their position, Offaly GAA Convention was told this week.

“There is no place in the GAA for people who abuse referees,” Offaly GAA assistant secretary Patr Teehan told delegates.

He made his comment after referring to a disciplinary report in the Offaly GAA Convention booklet.

Mr Teehan's report stated: “The main source of concern is that we still have players, team officials and supporters abusing and threatening match officials and this is totally unacceptable.”

He revealed that the Competitions Control Committee dealt with seventeen cases of referee abuse in 2025, nine of those were at underage level and “more concerning”, seven of these underage cases were by mentors.

“Clubs need to face up to their responsibility in this regard and remove such individuals from being part of team management,” he urged.

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Apart from that, the CCC were3 happy with the overall disciplinary record in Offaly. Of the 1300 adult and underage games played in Offaly in 2025, they dealt with 117 reports for infractions by players and team officials – the same as last year but still down from the 168 cases in 2023. 95 disciplinary notices or suspensions were issued from these with 10 hearings sought, where three had their penalty reduced or rescinded.