Who would be a referee, huh?
In an ideal world, every club contributes one whistler to the GAA ecosystem – that is how it should work.
Some show more aptitude for officiating than others and end up making the Championship panel and get the chance to strut their stuff on the national stage.
Not just anyone gets to be the man in the middle for intercounty football matches and with whatever prestige accrues, you are also a defendant in the court of public opinion.
It would seem that Roscommon’s Paddy Neilan managed to piss off both sets of fans in Thurles on Saturday evening as Armagh snuck past Tipperary on a scoreline of 1-17 to 1-15 in their Round 3B qualifier.
A couple of Gardaí made their way on to the field at full-time, just in case the home support decided to take matters into their own hands, but no Garda escort was required.
The Tipperary fans, like their manager Liam Kearns, kept control. Kearns was clearly furious when interviewed on RTÉ Radio after the match, but refused to say anything too inflammatory about Neilan.
Others were not so kind.
Referee just denied us one of the great goals by not allowing the advantage… that Jamie Clarke pick-up was 🔥 🔥 🔥 #GAA
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) July 15, 2017
There were a few baffling decisions. In the first half Armagh’s Gavin McParland had the ball in the net, only for Neilan to bring play back and give Armagh a free. If ever a passage of play was deserving of the advantage rule, it was Jamie Clarke’s beautiful pick-up on the run and devastating diagonal ball to McParland.
There was a similar [dis]advantage incident for Tipperary after the break, and the home side were furious when Stefan Campbell pointed in the final five minutes as they were convinced they were denied illegally at the other end.
Neilan would do well to steer clear of Twitter (and the Square in Thurles) this evening.
If you didn't know by now, Paddy Neilan is in charge
— Conán Doherty (@ConanDoherty) July 15, 2017
Should it not be a photo of Paddy Neilan you use Steven, Armagh's Man of the Match. Well done, ye need to improve an awful lot to go further
— Conor Doyle (@conordoyle83) July 15, 2017
Paddy Neilan is a dreadful referee, let's call it straight
— Jackie Cahill 🖐👍 (@cahilljackie) July 15, 2017
Paddy Neilan is having a mare. What have Tipp ever done to him?
— Shane Stapleton (@ShaneSaint) July 15, 2017
https://twitter.com/MichaelKane10/status/886278363937198080
Paddy Neilan is undoubtedly the worst referee in Ireland.
— Brendan Boylan (@BrendanBoylan) July 15, 2017
@officialgaa Paddy Neilan who represents your organisation,is a disgrace to the game. Completely out of his depth! All about his ego!
— John Brennan (@JohnMickBrennan) July 15, 2017
Jesus Paddy Neilan has been awful today. Not a lick of common sense #GAA
— Conor Greally (@ConorGreally) July 15, 2017
Poor showing by Paddy Neilan. Two advantage calls poorly executed at end of Tipperary v Armagh. Yellow shown for blatant black card foul too
— Paul Brennan (@Brennan_PB) July 15, 2017
