The GAA will be without two of its most trusted referees for this year's Championship after Meath's David Coldrick and Derek O'Mahony failed to meet the required fitness standard of an intercounty referee.
Both will be allowed to officiate as linesmen and be a standby referee. Interestingly, Coldrick has already officiated a game in the 2023 Championship.
The GAA asks its Championship intercounty referees to meet a Bleep Test score of 17.6 for Championship and 16.8 for the League.
46-year-old Coldrick is one of the most trusted GAA referees. He most recently refereed New York's historic win over Leitrim in the Connacht Senior Football Championship a fortnight ago.
Coldrick has refereed four All-Ireland finals, the first on being the 2007 final between Cork and Kerry when he was 30.
16 September 2007; Kerry captain Declan O'Sullivan and Cork captain Derek Kavanagh shake hands in the company of referee David Coldrick. Bank of Ireland All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, Kerry v Cork, Croke Park, Dublin. Picture credit; Brian Lawless / SPORTSFILE
He also refereed the 2010, 2015 and 2020 All-Ireland finals.
The 46-year-old wasn't the only noticeable referee to fail the fitness test with Derek O'Mahoney also not meeting the required standard for this summer's games.
The Ardfinnan man oversaw this year's controversial All-Ireland club final between Kilmacud Crokes and Glen at Croke Park and was referee when Mayo met Kildare in the 2022 Championship.
The news comes via Cahair O'Kane in today's Irish News, who says Coldrick was appointed for the New York game well ahead of the test in order to avoid any logistical travel issues.
In his controversial interview with Tipp Mid West Radio, former intercounty hurling ref Fergal Horgan spoke of the disquiet amongst referees about the appointment of a referee for a provincial game despite a failed fitness test. The same report mentions a second referee had failed the bleep test standard.
GAA referees on the fitness test requirements
Horgan has also been one of the most outspoken critics of the GAA's bleep test standard for referees.
Back in 2020, Horgan spoke to the Irish Examiner's GAA podcast about the strict fitness requirements for GAA referees.
O'Mahoney oversaw this year's controversial All-Ireland club final between Kilmacud Crokes and Glen at Croke Park and was referee when Mayo met Kildare in the 2022 Championship.organ said:
I don’t think we should be losing anyone because of it. We should be trying to get these boys over the line on it.
When Brian Gavin was refereeing, Brian will tell you himself he found it hard to get over the line on the fitness. But was he able to referee, by God was he able.
He was gone at 40, same age as I am today. Could we have done with Brian over the last three years? Absolutely.
Coldrick and O'Mahoney's absence will likely put the GAA under pressure over the coming months with the amount of games scheduled throughout the summer.
SEE ALSO: Outrageous Goal Helps Limerick Minors To Victory Over Tipp In Munster
