We’re going to need Hawkeye lads.
There are any number of characters in the GAA that make it such a unique organisation and right up at the top of that list are the umpires that selflessly give their time and put themselves in the firing line up and down the country every weekend.
While umpires in inter-county matches and big club matches are almost always neutral, when you start to drop down the divisions, referees are forced to call on volunteers who have an association with the teams that are playing and that’s when the real craic starts.
Some umpires will make all sorts of dubious calls about points and wide balls if they think it’ll give their own club an edge and it often leads to arguments, as was the case when Geraldine P Moran’s met St Peregine’s in a Dublin play-off final at the Bray Emmet’s GAA Grounds on Sunday.
Picture credit: Maurice Grehan
Neither umpire was prepared to give an inch on this occasion, but whether this particular score made a difference or not, it was Geraldine P Moran’s who emerged victorious on the day, winning by five points in the end.
No doubt you can think of somebody from your own parish who’d be prepared to pull a similar stunt for the sake of the club; who are we kidding, you can probably name 50.
Hat-tip to Daniel Hussey for his help with this one
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