When it comes to top level GAA, there seems to be an acceptance that cynicism is part and parcel of the sport.
Teams often approach the game in a way which makes it difficult to watch for viewers, with issues such as overly defensive tactics, boring periods of keep ball, and a lack of attacking intent commonplace. This is often just accepted by the authorities, who seem hesitant to bring in significant rule changes that would boost the appeal of the product on the pitch.
Most counties have shown that they are more than willing to engage in the dark arts, something that has often been facilitated by officials. It is encouraging to see that this may no longer be the case.
Referee praised for big decision in Roscommon vs Kildare
The black card has been a welcome addition to Gaelic football, with the rule severely limiting what was once rampant cynical tackling in the game. Teams are incredibly hesitant to go down to 14 men for a ten minute period, meaning they largely avoid pulling down opposition players.
In saying that, once they do commit such an offence, they often follow it up with even further cynicism. That usually comes in the form of time-wasting.
Whenever a team goes down to 14 men, you can be all but certain that it will be followed by some of their other players going to ground with supposed injuries. It is clear that they are only doing so in an attempt to have as little football played as possible during the ten minutes they are at a numerical disadvantage, although officials rarely push back against it.
That was not the case this afternoon.
Roscommon faced Kildare in Tuallmore this afternoon, with the Lilywhites going down to 13 men at one point in the first half as a result of two quick black cards.
Some of their players would then go down injured in an attempt to waste time, although the referee was having none of it. After Shea Ryan became the second Kildare player to go down in quick succession, referee Martin McNally produced a yellow card for time-wasting.
That is something we have not seen before at inter-county level, although it is certainly a welcome development.
Speaking on RTÉ at halftime in the game, both Lee Keegan and Colm Cooper would praise the official for his attempt to stamp down on the issue.
Keegan: I think the referee is extremely ballsy in making this decision. I think we don't see enough of this. There was no injury, so the referee is 100 per cent correct in pulling it.
Cooper: I think the referees have got together and said 'this is going every week, in every match'. They have obviously decided that they're going to take a tougher stance from here to the end of championship on it.
We haven't seen that. Kildare were just trying to play the clock down there and the referee was having none of it.
The move did not go down well among the Kildare management team, although they can have few complaints about the decision.
Hopefully this becomes a trend in the weeks ahead.
SEE ALSO: Marc Ó Sé Rinses Paddy Andrews For Role In 2009 Mauling At Croke Park
