GAA players and pundits told to watch their language by ref chief

The drama over Monaghan’s goal on Sunday drags on, with referee chief Pat McEnaney telling players and pundits to mind their language.

In the end it didn’t matter. Tommy Freeman’s 57^th minute goal for the Farney men put them four in front but Down battled back to win a dramatic Ulster football semi-final on Sunday.

A free was awarded to Monaghan and while referee Michael Duffy asked to speak to a Down player he allowed play to continue, allowing Freeman to blast the ball to the net. Down players were furious with Duffy’s handling of the incident and some took to Twitter to voice their anger.

This is one example, from young Down player Arthur McConville, retweeted by veteran forward Benny Coulter.

We suspect these sorts of comments were in mind when McEnaney said in today's Irish Independent: "Some of it (the criticism) is unfair and I think unacceptable. Players should use the same language about referees that applies to them when performances are being discussed."

Of course, those performances are usually discussed by pundits and The Sunday Game’s Joe Brolly was far from complimentary about Duffy either. The former Derry star called the referee’s decision for the goal “a real shocker” and “scandalously unfair”.

McEnaney, quoted in the Irish Daily Star, didn’t like those comments either. “I think that (Brolly’s comments) was harsh. We don’t mind if a referee had a poor day at the office or a player has a poor day at the office but we don’t like that language at all.”

McEnaney also tells the paper that Duffy would “hold his hands up” and admit he made a mistake in that case but he also said he encourages refs to play advantage.

Duffy will be in charge of the Longford/Derry clash this weekend. We expect his performance will be closely watched.