Cork boss not pleased with ‘hypocritical’ ref behaviour from Limerick manager

A bit of needle....

O'Connor was clearly not pleased with some of the behaviour from Kiely, and perhaps some decisions from the officials.

And the Rebels manager did admit that things got a bit heated between the two.

Kiely's actions with officials are interesting considering his words last week, when he expressed sympathy for referees.

He said: "I've taken on, I won't say a different approach, but a greater emphasis on helping the referee to have the best day they can this year and for us not to be a distraction and for us not to get involved.

"Just to trust him to get on with the job and do the best he can. Wish him well beforehand and thank him for doing the job afterwards.

"That's where it's been with us this year – you'll probably have noticed that if you think back on it – because it is a very, very difficult job.

"We've only got a few, so we need to mind them. They're not hanging off the trees.

"This is their big day and they want to get it as right as they possibly can. They're obviously under great pressure. It's a tough, tough job.

"It requires the full cooperation of their whole team. They have four umpires, two linesmen, a fourth official, and a referee.

"None of the teams want to walk away feeling that an incorrect decision might have cost them the game. I'm sure the referee doesn't want to go home knowing that he made a mistake that cost the game as well."

However, Colm Parkinson of Smaller Fish brought up the point to O'Connor that Kiely has a lot of interactions with the fourth official during matches.

The Cork boss responded tellingly: "Well I suppose he said during the week that he has fierce respect for referees, and I suppose he does, and we should all leave them alone.

"But he spent a lot of time having a word with them, and I suppose if you can get away with it, you can get away with it."