All Ireland hurling final referee Brian Gavin has been the subject of some less than happy tweeting today after he called Diarmuid Connolly a 'bold pup'. The referee is also chairman of Offaly club Clara and it seems he didn't take too kindly to Diarmuid Connolly during Sunday's Leinster club final between St. Vincents and Rhode.
We know #Gaa players can't tweet re referees, but let's see if it's ok for referees (@referee34) to Tweet re players pic.twitter.com/elpfNWvtIA
— David Whelan (@David_Whelan83) December 15, 2014
Former Mayo player Conor Mortimer was one of quite a few who questioned Gavin's tweet. Granted the words used are not exactly shocking, however, the umbrage seems to come from the fact that Gavin's position as a high profile referee should preclude him from tweeting anything negative about players.
The recent suspensions of Derry's Aaron Devlin and Donegal's David White seem to have played a part in the unhappiness surrounding the comment.
So @referee34 deletes tweet about DC and no more word . players get suspended for commenting on Twitter yet officials don't ? #gaajokeshop — Conor.mortimer (@Conmort) December 15, 2014
@David_Whelan83 @referee34 Pathetic behaviour! Wonder what (if anything) @officialgaa are going to do about this?
— Aideen Thornton (@Eadaoin_T) December 15, 2014
@coldoyle77 @shambo30 @David_Whelan83 @ClarkePaul1995 @referee34 them comments from that ref are a disgrace ... #noprotectionfortopplayers — tony dunne (@tonydunne73) December 15, 2014
Poor form form brian gavin (@referee34) too cowardly to stand over his comments about Connelly. Should be suspended. Same rules for refs!
— Killian (@killianodrico) December 15, 2014
If connolly said that about a ref he'd be suspended, so the exact same should go for referees. Disgraceful bias from @referee34 — Killian (@killianodrico) December 15, 2014
Very disappointed to see @referee34 make a silly statement like he did re @dermoc123 and @RhodeGAA. Obviously he realised and deleted it.
— Daire O' Neill (@daire147) December 15, 2014
