Waterford secured their promotion to division 1A for 2026 thanks to a 0-21 to 1-11 win over Offaly however, the calls for video technology in GAA have grown louder after Limerick referee Johnny Murphy sent James Mahon off for a challenge on Gavin Fives.
It happened in the 24th minute of the game. Mahon was penalised for a shoulder on Waterford's Gavin Fives near the sideline. The man in the middle went to his linesman Sean Stack - who had a perfect view of the incident - before deciding to send off the cornerback. However, on closer inspection, it looked like it was a shoulder-on-shoulder challenge, or possibly shoulder-on-chest unlike the contact-to-the-head offence the defender was dismissed for.
Cárta dearg bronnta ansin agus tá Uíbh Fháilí síos go 14! 😯
Cad a cheapann sibh sa mbaile faoin gceann sin? Offaly are down to 14.
BEO/LIVE AR @TG4TV 📺@AllianzIreland #AllianzLeagues #GAABEO pic.twitter.com/LNzFmAZL6n— Spórt TG4 (@SportTG4) March 22, 2025
Ahead of the previous round, Inter-county hurling referees were told to “tighten up” their application of the rules, and referees were directed to impose appropriate sanctions after a number of head-high fouls were not punished sufficiently in the previous round of the leagues.
This motion was severely applied, especially in the Tipperary Kilkenny game, which saw Alan Tynan sent off for a shoulder challenge on Cian Kenny. Despite appealing the decision, the result wasn’t overturned.
Speaking after the game Offaly manager Johnny Kelly questioned Mahon's sending off: "It's very hard on James," Kelly said.
"He's a great young fella and he's very disappointed in there but he has no case to answer there. We've watched it back and he's barely touched his opponent. A red card for that? Ah, I dunno."
Former Tipp hurler and now GAA pundit Shane McGrath has called for more assistance to be granted to officials with the introduction of video assistance.
“A TV Ref would have been a massive help there in helping to make that decision regarding the red card in the Offaly v Waterford game. It's hard to keep asking refs or linesmen to get all these calls right based on split-second action with the naked eye. Game was never faster than it is now.”
A TV Ref would have been a massive help there in helping to make that decision regarding red card in Offaly v Waterford game. Hard to keep asking refs or linesmen to get all these calls right based on split second action with the naked eye. Game was never faster than it is now.
— Shane Mc (@Shaneytweet) March 22, 2025
Former Offaly Hurler Shane Dooley went down a stronger opinionated few, blaming the inconsistency of officials calling the games.
Ridiculous red card from Johnny Murphy there.... that's a scandalous decision.
— Shane Dooley (@shanedoole) March 22, 2025
The GAA are looking to stamp out the head challenge, and rightly so in cases like the Conor Cooney tackle on Mike Casey, but depending on who’s officiating the game and with officials being marked and assessed to be on championship panels, the softer reds are becoming a common theme.
The Offaly GAA admin let their own feelings be known with their choice of an image in their fulltime graphic.
