We here at www.theplunkettsgac.ie we are not just interested in the star players gracing Plunkett Park at present. No way! We are all about the love…….that’s the love of the game, love of the club by the way. You would be hard pushed to find a more passionate gael around the mountains than our very own Inter-county referee John Devlin. He has been strutting his stuff as the man in the middle representing our club at the highest level.

As he celebrates his 20th year as “The man in black” we caught up with him at Pomeroy Fire Station where he took time out from “saving lives” to chat …….BALL! Just the way we like it.

So John, 20 years in this business. Tell us about some your personal highlights.

Well folks, the biggest highlight for most referees is refereeing a final regardless of the level. Finals over the past 20 years that I have took charge of include: 

• National Hurling League – Monaghan V South Down (Div 4)
• Ulster Minor Hurling Final 2011
• Ulster Senior Club Hurling Final – Dungiven V Cushendall – Draw
• Tyrone Senior Hurling Final 9 times
• Armagh Senior Hurling Final
• Fermanagh Senior Hurling Final
• Two Ulster Under 21 Finals – Down V Antrim and Derry V Antrim
• Ulster Junior Hurling Final – Antrim V Down
• Ulster Intermediate Final – ~St Gauls V Middletown
• Under 16 All Ireland Hurling Final
• Camogie Ulster Minor Final
• Ulster Intermediate Final
• Football Finals in Tyrone Minor and Reserve
• Also refereed in Birminghan and
• Linesman in New York and London

That is one long list on your C.V! Tell us, what inspired you to become a referee?

Art McCrory and Enda Kilpatrick needed a referee for school games and the venue was always Pomeroy so I was asked to referee.  Then the Plunketts needed a referee because I think Gerard Conway was our club referee but a rule came out that every Club was to provide 2 referees or the Penalty was no Ref no Reserve game so I was, I would say pushed in that direction.  So I went to what was new at the time, a referees course, the tutor’s being Kevin Skelton and John McGlinchey RIP.  At the end, a fitness test (8 laps of running track in Omagh and exam to see did I know the rules) passed both. – My first game was Loughmacrory V Aghyaran in the Under 14 league.

Tell us about some of your peers in both Tyrone and Nationally.

Starting off, there were some good referees – Jim Curran, Dessie Slater RIP and moving on outside of the county  – Hurling Dixie Murphy, Wexford  legend who retires this year at 50. 

Willie Barrett, Tipperary; Jer Devlin, Armagh; Jim O’Rourke, Monaghan;  Tiernach Mahon, Fermanagh; Martin Mulholland, Derry;  All good hurling referees.  The 50 age rule applies now and all retire from the National Panel.

Do you still get nervous before a big game?

Yes! That never leaves any referee no matter how many games you do or how long you are refereeing

What advice would you give to new refs or those interested in taking up this key job?

Be fit, know the rules, position yourself to get a good view of play. A good squad of Umpires is crucial. Good side vision helps. Enjoy refereeing, be fair. Don’t lose your temper – there is enough losing their temper around you. Be Confident – sometimes its hard though.

Is Hurling a particular passion of yours?

Yes! I enjoy hurling very much – very skillful fast game.

Tell us about your experiences with Umpires. You seem to have a quality team at present. How important is this for you?

At Inter County and Club Championship it is a great help to have good umpires – they now have umpire training.  My umpires have been trained up and are aware it’s not only scores the have to look for.  A good umpire is the “eyes in your back of your head” they cover all “off the ball” incidents and relay to the referee if any action needs to be taken eg “if two players are getting to know each other behind my back my umpires will talk too them and call me in if they don’t stop or repeat it”.

I have used a lot of umpires from the Plunketts. My current team are: Noel McCreesh, Eddie Laird, Joe Rafferty, Declan Callan, Kieran Flanagan, Sean Hurson, Colin McCreesh, Dessie Conway and Martin McNally (Hawk eye).  Over the years I used a lot of club members too, far too numerous to remember them all but anybody that was asked was always ready and willing. A few that come to mind are Jimmy Beggs, Michael Kennedy, John McCrystal (Chubby), Brendan McLaughlin, Kieran Kelly, Jimmy Kennedy RIP, John McNamee, Paul McCallan, Declan McCallan, Jackie Lamb RIP, Gerard Beggs, Felix McKeever. People who gave up their time for very little reward and a long day eg: Leave Pomeroy at 11:30am on Sunday for an Ulster Minor Final at 1:30pm then not home until 7:30pm at night. ‘Not much fun in that!’ 

Alot of referees have come in for much criticism in recent times. What are your views on the treatment received from players, management and supporters?

A lot of referees take the course but can’t take the abuse and therefore give up after a few games. This is were you need a ‘thick skin’.  Every game will have many post mortems and the referee will never please everybody.  Some teams will show more respect than others. I suppose this is something that should be instilled at youth level by managers and parents. There is a difference between Hurling and Football in supporters.  Hurling supporters know the rules better than the football supporters; 

Players in Hurling will take a knock, but if there is an advantage they will play on were as in Football there is a lot of pulling, holding, and diving by both teams looking for the easy free. Also in hurling the way you tackle a player in possession is better defined, whilst in football the tackle is defined but open to interpretation, so a lot of abuse will come to the football referee because of this.

You mentioned courses and ongoing referees training. Alot of people may not be aware of this level of committment. Enlighten us.

I go to Croke Park for training. In January we have a weekend in Dublin which involves: – A seminar, followed by a fitness test on Friday evening at DCU; then seminars all day Saturday and Rules Test followed dinner at which the President of the GAA presents the awards.  I have to start training in October for the Bleep Test, we have regular meetings during the National League and Championship this means travelling to Athlone several times a year.

In Tyrone: referees have regular meetings:- yearly fitness tests, exams on rules, continuous assessment at matches throughout the year and a presentation night at Christmas.

Ulster referees have a fitness test and exam on rules, umpire meetings but not as many meetings as Tyrone.

No doubt you have an extensive knowledge of our games. Let’s put it to the test!

A goalkeeper gets the ball in the small square, he kicks the ball over by the sideline it hits the corner flag and bounces back into play.  What does the referee do?

A)    Let play continue

B)    Give a 45

C)    Give a sideline kick

D)    Hop the ball 20 meter line                Ans: (C)

Does the referee blow for a free kick if a player in possession of the ball, bounces the ball three times before taking the ball again into his hands again?

                                                                           Ans: (No)

A team wish to make an official protest before the game commences, who is allowed to make this protest?

A)    Club Chairman; B) Team Captain; C) Manager; D) Club Secretary.

Ans: (B)

A Player miss hits a sideline kick and sees an opponent running for the ball, he kicks the ball before the opponent reaches it.  What does the referee do?

A)    Throw up ball

B)    Allow play to continue

C)    Award a free kick to the opposition                  Ans: (A)

We are not too sure how we did there John. Not surprisingly all your answers are correct.

To be carrying out this role for so long surely it must be a “labour of love” to an extent? Tell us what is the best thing, for you, about Refereeing.

It’s hard to believe but you make a lot of friends – some enemies too. It keeps you fit. Free kits and gear, overseas trips are a bonus and I have some good craic with my umpires.

And the downside……..?

When you get a late call at night when someone needs a referee. I don’t like saying no if I can manage to do the game.  This always comes on top of your allocation of games from the County, Ulster and Croke Park as well as the College games and the Camogie which could mean officiating at 3 games on a Sunday and maybe doing up to 5 or 6 during some weeks. Some very hectic periods! This is when you get ‘burnt out’ and you just want to get the games over, then other times are quieter but they don’t last long. It is easier when your children are very young but as they get older they want to follow their own club games and the Tyrone games and these normally clash with refereeing so then when your children begin to play themselves you can miss out on a lot of their own games and you have to stretch yourself to be as many places as possible.

So what does the future hold for “John D – The Referee”? 

Age 50 Rule!! One more year at National Level. Continue refereeing in Ulster and Tyrone – Football, hurling, College games also refereeing Camogie – Skill level of the girls shocked me, It is at a very high standard, the coaching is excellent in Ulster, the likes of Eglish Camogie team are a very hard working team with great skill and fitness level, would give some hurling teams a run for their money. So I will keep going for a while if injury free and still enjoying it.  To me it’s still like playing football ‘only difference is I’m guaranteed at least two touches of the ball!

And on that note, John climbs up into the fire engine and goes about his business. We here at the Plunketts are immensly proud of his acheivements over the years and are all to aware of his vital club role. John is a popular figure within the county and hopefully he will continue to officiate for many years to come.

Many thanks to John for taking time out to contribute to this weeks web feature.