Kevin Connelly talks about taking up refereeing
Feature
Mike Finnerty
IF life does indeed begin at 40 then Kevin Connelly is just getting started. The man formerly known as Noel’s older brother celebrated his landmark birthday last month and is quickly establishing a reputation for himself as a referee on the local GAA circuit.
The irony isn’t lost on the man himself. Known as a fierce competitor on the field and something of a ‘loose cannon’ on the sideline, Kevin Connelly admits that plenty of eyebrows were raised when he announced that he was joining the ranks of the referees.
Now, three years on, the Hollymount native can reflect on a job well done so far. He is now regarded as one of the brightest ‘young’ prospects in the county, his common-sense approach and firm yet fair style winning him plenty of admirers.
Next Saturday evening he will point his car for Aghamore and take charge of a Mayo junior championship match between the local B team and Ballycroy. It might be far from the glamour and the glory, but Connelly isn’t too bothered. He took up refereeing for very simple reasons.
“Poacher-come-gamekeeper is one phrase I’ve heard a few times,” he smiled last week. “It was just something I always wanted to do, even as a young lad. I said I’d give it a go and if it wasn’t working out, if I wasn’t doing a good job, I’d hang up the whistle.
“I wanted to stay involved in the game and keep fit. It kept me away from my own team too. I was getting too involved and refereeing was one way of being able to enjoy the game again. I like watching a game as a neutral, watching two teams that I have no connection with.
“I enjoy watching the football too. If it’s a good tight game there’s nobody more delighted than I am. I believe in letting the game flow, in thinking like a footballer. If a fella gets a hard tackle but is still on his feet, goes by his opponent, he doesn’t want to be blown up. He’s still travelling. If he’s stopped in his tracks then, fair enough, it’s a free. You have to think like a player. What would I want to happen as a player?”
Referees at every level are in the spotlight these days. The Sunday Game has cranked up the spotlight, supporters are getting louder and prouder, and players feel compelled to argue the toss. Connelly says that it’s all about common sense.
“I remember being told at my first meeting that there was an advantage at the referee’s discretion. It might not be in the rule book but it can be used at your discretion. I use it, whether I’m right or wrong. A lot of players seem to like it and I’ve never been told off yet for playing the advantage. If every referee pulled for every rule that was broken in a match we’d have a free-taking competition and we’d have no football.
“You have to earn respect. If you’re out there making a mess of the game, blowing for every single thing in the rulebook, you’re not going to get any respect from players. You have to let them play football, know when to act, when to have a word, when to book. If you do that players will be happy enough, win, lose or draw.
“I don’t believe in dictating to players either, pointing the finger or making a show of them in front of a crowd. If it’s nasty I’ll go in and deal with it, give them a card and tell them what it’s for. There’ll be no big lecture. A quiet word sometimes is better than anything.”
And when it’s all over, Kevin Connelly heads back to Hollymount, picks through the bones of his performance, and gets ready to do it all over again. Why? Because he enjoys it.
“I’d like to do a county senior final someday, If I’m good enough. If I’m not good enough I won’t get it. I’m in it to enjoy it and do it for as long as I can. All you can do is your best.”
