Published: Wednesday, 31st March, 2010 5:00pm

Poor performances off the pitch

Not a very good weekend for Meath GAA teams, with the exception of the minor footballers, but then there is always an exception!

The minors had a good win against Down at Saval on Saturday and a busy day continued for the selectors and management when they won a challenge game against Louth later on Saturday evening.

Anyone watching the minors play over the past few weeks could be excused for feeling that the players have drawn a sort of short straw.

Two months after a new sponsorship package was the subject of a low key announcement by Meath GAA Co Committee, teams still continue to wear the 'old' jerseys of former sponsor Menolly Group.

Three games into the Ulster MFL - it's not exactly sending out a positive message to potential future sponsors?

No such problems for the well-connected Co Committee officials who all appear to have new coats emblazoned with Comer Group in all the right places - could they be a the new version of the what was the old FAI blazer brigade?

Look after the chiefs and the main team, but don't worry too much about the rest!

With the Meath footballers using the yellow jerseys for the game in Donegal on Saturday night there was an opportunity to let the minor football team have the green jerseys which were used for the games against Westmeath, Tipperary and Laois.

Hopefully, by the time the Leinster MFC comes around on Saturday, 17th April the anomaly will be rectified because it portrays a sloppy image of where Meath football is at.

Maybe it's an accurate reflection of how things are!

Moving on to the hurlers, or the Hurling Development Committee to be precise, the arrangements for the minor hurling finals at Pairc Tailteann on Sunday were totally unacceptable and again, it all reflects badly on the administrators.

Four teams all contributed handsomely to two fantastic finals which were competently handled by referees Anthony Hoey of Boardsmill and Richard Morris of Blackhall Gaels.

But where were the linesmen?

Rumours, and in the absence of anything else they are sufficient and probably close enough to the truth, suggested that the linesmen who were appointed were not prepared to do the job.

It was a kind of "If I'm not the referee for the final then I won't run the line" attitude - it's not acceptable.

I'll come back to why it's not acceptable in a moment.

There was an incident in the first game (Gaeil Cholmcille v Kildalkey) where the sliotar clearly crossed the sideline, but the person who was carrying the flag did not signal as it was in favour of Kildalkey.

This infuriated the Kildalkey management and supporters and the Gaeil Cholmcille management and supporters reacted - not in a positive way - fortunately the situation calmed down quickly.

The second game (Trim v Killyon / Boardsmill) didn't escape the old sideline controversy either.

Midway into the second-half there was a clear sideline for Killyon / Boardsmill and once again there was no signal from the person carrying the flag.

Play continued, but there was no benefit for Trim. However, when the ball went out of play, the referee had a word with the person who was carrying the flag.

Perhaps there is a simple explanation. Maybe the duties of a linesman were not fully understood by the two individuals who were pressed into action on Sunday?

Perhaps it might be opportune to take a leaf out of the 'other code' (soccer) where a club linesman will receive the following instruction from the referee prior to kick-off - "When the ball goes out of play raise your flag, do not indicate which way, I will do that" - that would be the gist of what soccer referees usually tell non-official linesmen.

And in soccer, it is recognised as an honour to be appointed as a linesman (new term assistant-referee) for any game, final or not.

Now, back to why the attitude of the GAA referees is not acceptable.

It should also be an honour to be appointed as a linesman for a county GAA final at any grade, but as I understand it, there is no fee or expenses for the role. Now that might be a stumbling block.

The Co Committee have to sort this out now and take stern action with non-compliant referees.

Surely there are plenty of young or new referees who would have the enthusiasm for the role and would also benefit from working as part of a team with an experienced referee?

Maybe the enthusiasm needs to come from the top?

Maybe it's time to tell some referees to hang up the whistle. No referee should consider himself too good to line at any game, but he does deserve to have his expenses covered.

No doubt someone who is well connected will tell me I am wrong, but that person probably won't be from Kildalkey, Killyon or Boardsmill.