The Donegal GAA Referees’ Administrator, Shane Toolan, has warned of a ‘crisis’ in the number of officials for adult games in the county.
At last night’s county convention in Ballybofey, Toolan presented some stark figures to delegates.
Toolan outlined that there are now 11 clubs – just over a quarter of the clubs in the county – who are not providing an adult referee.
“These clubs field 24 teams from under-21 level up and yet rely on other clubs to provide referees for all their home games,” Toolan said.
There are also 17 clubs, who between them field 55 adult teams, providing only one active referee.
Toolan said: “The past year has seen the crisis in refereeing numbers increase quite dramatically.
“A simple glance at this statistic, coupled with the fact that we are operating on a pool of 42 active referees and with a full programme of games scheduled, totalling 35 some weekends, the issues become apparent.
“Up to 20 per cent of refs are unavailable mainly due to injuries, work commitments, family commitments and inter-county appointments.”
Toolan noted that there was one game – a fixture between Kilcar and Gaoth Dobhair Reserves – where no referee turned up.
The Referees’ Administrator warned clubs: “This situation just cannot continue and, unless the individual clubs provide suitable individuals for the training course, which are provided annually, then we are facing an even greater shortage of suitable referees for games in 2018.
“I would appeal to the clubs to place this requirement for club referees at the top of their agenda for 2018. It is unfair to expect other clubs to provide a referee for all your home games and unless those clubs with no or just one referee provide volunteers we will see a major cancellation of games in 2018.”