Well known former inter-county Cavan referee Brian Crowe joined John Lynch on Saturday Sport to discuss his career and the role of referees in GAA.
The Modern game
He wouldn’t be in favour of Television match officials saying ‘it would have to be across the board and wouldn’t be feasible’. He thinks that referees should be involved in punditry as they can explain why referee decisions were made. He says the modern game has fantastic communication nowadays with the officals with microphones to talk to each other
His career beginnings
He explained how he got involved in refereeing saying his first game was a junior derby and he got through it and he hasn’t look back since. He enjoyed the experience and he forged many friendships along the way.
He refereed his first of three county finals in 1995 and in 1997 he refereed his first intercounty championship minor game. That year Brian also got his first senior inter-county national league match as Roscommon managed by Donie Shine took on Westmeath managing Westmeath in Kiltoom.
In his career he refereed two Connacht provincial finals in 1997 and 2000. ‘I was happy when it was decided that provincial borders wouldn’t prohibit referees in refereeing matches’.
He feels it’s important to build up a loyal team of officials that were with him from Cavan junior football to big inter-county days. He explained that umpires each have their own quadrant that is their responsibility and to keep their eyes on it and a referee must trust his umpires.
The All Ireland final in 2006
In 2006 He refereed the All Ireland final between Mayo and Kerry which Kerry won by 4-15 to 3-05. He says it was fantastic to get the news. ‘I found out about 13 days beforehand and it was a great honour for my province, my club Cavan Gaels and my province.
He was in the company of his sister who has since passed away when he found out the news. He told John that’’ she was a great support for me throughout his refereeing career’.
Ahead of the game his team were brought to Croke Park for a meeting and getting the timings for the day.
‘Nobody can say they are not nervous on big match days as they wait for the knock on the door.
He told John that ahead of the match he chose to warm up in the quiet walkway in Croke Park to pass the time. ‘The dressing room in Croke Park was a mighty dressing room’.
When asked about the big match he told John that ‘once all the ceremonial matters are out of the way its just another game. The rules must still be applied’.
Brian reflected on how he still has a vivid memory of the game. ‘You have to have a mental concentration through out the game no matter how the match is going and as soon as the game is over they have a debrief for positives and constructive negatives’.
‘Afterwards we had the meal and then headed home as they were all working on Monday’. When I went out to referee I always gave my best and he says he remembers pundit Tony Davis on the Sunday game that night suggesting him as man of the match.
Back down to earth
‘I can recall the following day I was refereeing an under 12 match in Cornafean’. He says all they wanted to do was get on with the football.
Refereeing role
When asked did he ever feel intimidated. He says he was lucky he applied the 3 F’s in refereeing which were be Fair, be firm and be Friendly. It’s important that you communicate the reason for your actions so players management and supporters no why a decision was made.
The Cavan Gaels clubman is now a referee match advisor. He outlined that its important when a referee is out refereeing he must first and foremost be close to the play so his decision making can be accurate when they are out refereeing when he observes a foul by blowing his whistle when he is close to the play this will give clarity to and everybody knows why the free was recorded. And as an assessor he’s there to assist a referee with constructive analysis. ‘If he’s making a mistake he needs to be told- otherwise he won’t learn and there are many unsung referees and assessors in the sport’.
