National Football Leagues 2026

Westernview · 31-03-2026 08:40PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124354258#Comment_124354258

You reckon? I think you are naive to believe that. Its an open secret that refs give easier frees to a team who had a man sent off and are down to 14 players. And with that being the case its not a stretch to say they also do it after making a major mistake.

dxhound2005 · 31-03-2026 08:50PM

This is a different point to the one which says that another referee will give Murphy the red card he should have got on Sunday.

"It will be interesting to see if avoiding the sending off could go against Murphy down the line. If he had got the red card its unlikely he would be issued a second one. But after all the coverage over this he may end up getting one as it will be in the minds of referees that he should have gone yesterday. It shouldn't work that way but referees often seek to rebalance a situation."

Westernview · 31-03-2026 09:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124354320#Comment_124354320

Referees are human and often succumb to media pressure. Either knowingly or subconsciously they could easily send Murphy off for a lesser offence during the championship as a consequence of the furore this week. As others have mentioned the Kerry media machine is very influential when it ramps up.

robbiezero · 31-03-2026 09:11PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124354320#Comment_124354320

A ref wont try and balance the books on that game, but he likely wont get the benefit of the doubt in a close call red if the situation occurs, and I imagine he might want to be very careful with that trademark punch in the ribs tackle for a while.

dxhound2005 · 31-03-2026 09:38PM

Donegal should get their appeal ready in advance. To get Murphy's close call red rescinded.

FullBack Jam · 01-04-2026 11:39AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124354419#Comment_124354419

There would be no appeal. Striking or attempting to strike is a red card. And behaving in a way which is dangerous to the opponent is a red card. If he continues to tackle with the closed fist punch, he will get a red card in the coming months.

You made the comment that "There are no cases where a referee balanced out a mistake made by another referee in a different game. Not even any case where a referee balanced out his own mistake later in a game". I don't think that's the case. I've often seen matches where a ref makes what seems to be the incorrect decision. It could be borderline, but the crowd get on his back, and a raft of booing starts. A couple of minutes later, you'd find that the team that has been "wronged" gets a very soft free. They are only human, and can get caught up in the hype and excitement of a big game.

dxhound2005 · 01-04-2026 12:03PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124355403#Comment_124355403

How often were you a supporter of one of the teams involved? Are you thinking of any examples where you saw it on TV, giving you the advantage of slow motion replays not available to referees?

FullBack Jam · 01-04-2026 01:10PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124355465#Comment_124355465

I don't know what the point of the questions are, but to answer them:-

Been following GAA for about 40 years. Been to hundreds of games. I'm thinking of moments both when I am at matches and when I watch on TV where the ref can get caught up in the hype and the crowd on his back, and where he makes a decision that he quickly realises might have been wrong, that he gives a soft free afterwards to the team that was initially wronged.

dxhound2005 · 01-04-2026 01:33PM

The point is that supporters of a team cannot be trusted to be impartial. You will know that from listening to them at games. You will have heard them telling the ref he is wrong even though they are 50 yards away from the action, and he is right beside it.

Of course being right beside the action, does not give a referee sight of things which are obscured from his view. This is where the TV replays turns critics of referees into experts.

Donegal would appeal any red card for Murphy, judging by what happened in the past. The red card coming up for him according to posters here will be of the "close call" variety.

https://www.donegaldaily.com/2011/06/17/murphy-wins-his-appeal-to-line-out-against-tyrone/

overshoot · 01-04-2026 06:08PM

I dont think any retrospective action can be taken as the referee took action in the game. If he missed it it would be possible but maybe im wrong.

The GAA has shown themselves completely rudderless when it comes to discipline over the years. There has been lots of closed fist tackles in games, lots of poor high tackles that dont get the appropriate card with yellow or worse imo a black given out where its not a black offence at all.

Even melees, they had the chance a few years ago with Donegal Armagh in the league. Donegal didnt appeal, Armagh did and all got off. It was the perfect chance to back up a referee when just one side appealed and they balked at it. Fortunately donegal still won the championship game minus the players.

If they want to deal with discipline a memo at the start of the year, appeals against whats found to be a valid red card will see the ban doubled (and back it up), honestly believe that would bring a big change on the field

Charles Babbage · 02-04-2026 12:39PM

There is a common scenario where refs make a particular effort on one or other rule at the start of the championship, a push which seems to be have ended by the quarter finals or so. Not only Murphy would need to be careful with closed fist action after the recent publicity.

dxhound2005 · 02-04-2026 01:13PM

One they can spot a lot easier is overcarrying. And they have dozens of chances to penalise it in every game, but only a few cases are picked up.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2024/0301/1435444-overcarrying-a-step-too-far-for-the-gaa/

dxhound2005 · 02-04-2026 03:15PM

RTE Sport have made up their minds that Murphy will not face any further sanction. But in the absence of any source, they couch it in journalese.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/football/2026/0402/1566467-murphy-to-face-no-further-punishment-over-casey-incident/

"Donegal's Michael Murphy will not face any sanction for his strike on Kerry’s Dylan Casey during the Tir Chonaill County’s Division 1 triumph on Sunday, RTÉ Sport understands."

"The GAA’s central competitions control committee (CCCC) have the power to examine incidents like this and dish out further punishment, but that is not expected to happen in this case."