O’Connor lays into ‘bugbear’ about way games are reffed Cork senior hurling manager Ben O’Connor has voiced strong criticism over the current refereeing and administrative practices in hurling, citing communication difficulties with players during matches as his “biggest bugbear.” Speaking ahead of Cork’s upcoming fixtures, O’Connor emphasized the challenges posed by loud crowds and sideline restrictions that prevent effective in-game messaging. O’Connor detailed instances where he entered the field of play to deliver instructions, actions that have drawn warnings from match officials. He recounted being cautioned after running onto the field during a league final loss to Limerick, stating he was told further incursions would result in a yellow card, followed by a red. Despite the risk, O’Connor maintained that such measures are sometimes necessary due to the lack of alternative communication channels. He rejected suggestions that players should feign injury to stop play and receive messages, asserting that his team prefers to maintain momentum and compete fairly. “We want to play, to retain going, keep going, and acquire a bit of momentum,” O’Connor said. “It’s very awkward. I don’t see it as an issue for some fella to run in with a message, out the other side of the field, job done.” The Cork manager called for a balanced approach, proposing that a designated team official be permitted to enter the field briefly to relay tactical information before returning to the sideline. “There must be some middle ground,” O’Connor stated. “A fella who can run across the field, pass on the information, keep going to the other side, and approach back around again.” Management teams have been barred from having a maor fóirne enter the field to communicate with players since 2021. O’Connor argued that the current system undermines competitive fairness, particularly in high-noise environments like championship matches where vocal instructions are inaudible. His comments come amid ongoing debate about the role of technology and procedural adjustments in modern hurling, with several inter-county managers expressing similar concerns about referee communication protocols and match administration. O’Connor affirmed his commitment to advocating for practical solutions that preserve the integrity and flow of the game while enabling effective coaching input.
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