ADDITIONAL ASSISTANT REFEREES will be used in Irish domestic football next week for the first time.
Setanta Sports Cup organisers confirmed today the two extra match officials behind the goals will be introduced for the semi-finals and the final of this year’s tournament.
An all-Airtricity League final four sees Shamrock Rovers play Cork City and Drogheda United meet Sligo Rovers with the first legs taking place next Tuesday, 16 April.
The use of additional assistants to help the officials to make penalty box and goal-line decisions was first trialled by football governing body UEFA in 2008.
Despite much criticism UEFA says that the move has been a success and after analysing more than 1,200 games, found that the additional assistants resulted in better control of the match and an improvement in accuracy.
Tómas Connolly and Rob Rogers will be the two additional assistants when Rovers and Cork meet for the first leg in Tallaght Stadium next week while IFA officials Ray Crangle and Mervyn Smith will be on duty for the first leg of Drogheda v Sligo.
“By its very nature, the Setanta Sports Cup tournament is an innovative competition and I am delighted that we are once again breaking new grounds by introducing additional assistant referees for the semi-finals and final,” tournament committee chairman Milo Corcoran said today.
“This is the first time Additional Assistant Referees will have been used in domestic competitions and there is no doubt that two extra pairs of eyes focusing on the penalty areas will be of valuable assistance to the referee who will continue to be the person who makes the final decision.”
Absolutely terrible decision that has to be a red card , high speed neck high challenge to stop a goal scoring opportunity. Very generous refereeing for Galway in that first half
Coen was a lucky boy
Terrible decision!
That was one seriously dangerous challenge and he should have walked . The short conversation with linesman had me convinced he was gone.
Hurling > football
Lower viewing figures, less participating counties…..
Hoping for a Galway win, Kilkenny will shade it no doubt!!
So the location of the match is at Old Trafford?
When did Mick McCarthy lose his lovely quiff & when did he start managing Galway ?
Boring. Kilkenny too good again. Hurling becoming a joke.
Galway resorting to Dublin tactics and being facilitated by ref
Zzzzzzzzzzzzz
You mean Kilkenny tactics?
Big time bottlers are Galway, not helped by some terrible refereeing
Galway can’t complain about refereeing, got 2 points from soft overcarrying decisions and should have had 14 men for the whole 2nd half
OMG Stick Wars !!
It was disgusting to see half of the Kilkenny crowd leave before the cup was presented, talk about arrogance.
Galway could have won it but the Cats ‘re the best for a reason, great second half display by them.
Maybe next year Galway…
Well done, Galway. A few stats! Galway all Ireland Intermediate champs, All Ireland Minor Champs, and 2nd best Senior team in the country…and the Ladies to come yet…Not bad, I suggest…
Keep it going, Galway.
Great Kilkenny team, no argument. But they will be stopped sometime!!
How can the 42 not get the full time score correct?
Great Galway display, against an indisputable set of Kilkenny legends. No doubt about that. But just remember a little stat (to the knockers!). Galway= all Ireland Intermediate champs, All Ireland Minor Champs and 2nd best Seniors in the country and all for 2015. And the Ladies Camogie has to come yet in the all Ireland… Not bad stats? So, Galway, well done, a credit to yourselves. And under great leadership.
Man of the stadium: Messi
Jonny Ryan a legend