Darran O'Sullivan got tired in recent weeks of being asked a question he could not answer. Returned to Glenbeigh following the All-Ireland semi-final replay defeat to Mayo last month, locals wanted to know why he was black-carded less than ten minutes after entering the game as a half-time substitute.
It's a question O'Sullivan himself sought an answer to on the pitch - one was not forthcoming from referee David Gough. His frustration in recent weeks mirrored that in the moments after Gough pulled the card from his pocket. O'Sullivan left the field like someone arguing with a bouncer at the end of the night.
"The joys of Gaelic football: you don't get an answer on the field," laughed the Kerryman on Thursday afternoon at a media event to announce Sky Sports’ new grassroots partnership with the GAA.
The card was shown after the Kerry sub ran into Mayo's Cillian O'Connor while chasing an opponent near the sideline. It was presumably given for a third man tackle offence. Though one could argue it was O'Connor who was guilty of an offence - he stepped in front of O'Sullivan.
After those posing questions to him watched a replay of the incident, they understood his anger, "they were kind of going, d'you know, it was a joke of a call, like."
O'Sullivan's annoyance was exacerbated by a feeling that he had been robbed of a chance to influence the game. Kerry needed someone to make an impact and he was one of those chosen.
I'd say it was the first time ever I reacted like that. And that was all from not getting an answer why I was getting black-carded. Obviously, I was frustrated.
After coming straight back after the club scene, the form wasn't where I wanted it to be. I only started playing up to myself, really, the three, four, five weeks beforehand. I was only just starting to feel good again, start playing well. And I thought: 'I can make an impact here.' That was taken away from me with no explanation, and that's why I got so pissed off.
Despite asking Gough directly for a reason why his semi-final appearance had ended with such abruptness, the referee was unwilling - or unable - to provide an answer. "I said: 'What's that for?' And I got blanked. The rest is history. I got a suspension then on top of it I think, for a game. So that's the joys of it."
O'Sullivan sees the lack of communication from some officials during games as one of the most annoying aspects of Gaelic football. Standards in this respect do vary.
A good few of them there now, like, you'd go up to them and say, 'Jayze, what's that for?' And they'd say it straight out: 'You were pulling,' or acting the maggot, or whatever you're doing. At least if they tell you, you know you're doing it. Grand.
But if you're asking and you genuinely don't know, and they don't tell you, there's nothing more frustrating - especially if you're wronged, which I was. I'll never rectify that. It was just to ask him the question and to be ignored blatantly, it drove me mental.
That's all it is, a bit of communication. There's a referee, there's two linesmen, there's four umpires and then there's an official on the sideline. That's eight officials. To be getting decisions wrong...
There has to be more communication amongst all of them. Like, I can't understand how blatant decisions can be missed, when there's that many officials around the place. It's crazy.
Sky Sports today announced it is partnering with the GAA on three major grassroots initiatives which will see the broadcaster invest a total of €3m over five years. Today’s announcement was made alongside the launch of The GAA Super Games Centres at GAA National Games Development Centre, Abbotstown; the first of the three grassroots initiatives that Sky Sports will support. Dublin player and newly crowned All Ireland champion Con O’Callaghan and Sky mentors Carla Rowe and Darran O’Sullivan were in attendance to announce Sky Sports’ new grassroots partnership with the GAA.
