Top hurling referee Fergal Horgan explains why he has walked away

[@olliecollins2151]

Fergal did well to put up with Nathan’s shocking attitude throughout this “interview”

[@michaelryan5962]

Not all one-sided,

[@MHKKFan]

Absolute tripe from Nathan. "Trying to provide balance". I'm a Kilkenny man who can still say Fergal (Tipp man) is one of the best intercounty refs of the last decade. His points are unbelievably accurate from the point of view of a hurling fan who becomes very aware of officials who consistently fail to live up to the standards required as the games and years go by. Disappointed in the interview, there's no balance being sought, more like a personal disagreement from the interviewer

[@bernieone1]

Nathan making assumptions and Fergal spouting facts. Interesting from Off The Ball!

[@ThePaulo093]

Quite an astonishing performance from Nathan. From the start of the interview it felt that he was either unprepared for the interview and chose to play an extreme version of devil's advocate, or has an agenda with fergal/croke park. Fergal did well to maintain his composure in the face of the interviewer's unprofessional behaviour.

[@seaniek9175]

Fergal is making absolute sense here. Cant say the same for Nathan. U wouldnt appoint a stand by referee for the Euro or World cup final if they didnt referee at least 3 or 4 big games in the tournament.If Fergal is giving up the referring, newstalk could do worse than use him as a pundit for the rest of the championship.

[@daviddurack]

Fergan wouldnt suit Newstalk with their PC rubbish. They dont like facts

[@dgmclar]

What are you talking about, are you as mentally incapacitated as he is?

[@CraicOfTheAsh]

Interview was like a candid camera at times. He explained three times his issue. Standards had slipped too far and upper management bend the rules to suit themselves. The people making the rules for referees should have player safety in mind but also acknowledge what the spectators & players want. Good to see Fergal use his retirement to highlight this.

[@lukagiltrap77]

Nathan, there is a difference between playing journalistic Devil's Advocate, and being passive aggressive with an interviewee.Not a good look.

[@colmanlong1032]

Nathan your off the ball with your B/S.

[@darennestor]

Nathan, you mad every little sense I most of what you said because enough were too worried about stepping on toes. And as a result you shortchanged Fergal by talking around him and ignoring his core issue. This was very disappointing

[@johnadams20132013]

I'm sorry Nathan is out of his depth he's terrible Fergal Horgan is on the money there he has being interrupted time time again shocking Nathan is. Imo Fergal is a brilliant referee sorry to see him go

[@proche101]

I wish Richie, Will or Joe had interviewed Fergal instead of Nathan, who not only knows nothing about hurling and how it's run, but also has an unnecessarily confrontational stance. "Providing balance" - the go-to excuse for poor interviewers! Also, clearly Nathan hadn't prepared a thing for this interview....he's still dreaming about golf. The producer must have been in his ear cos he changed towards the end, but still not good enough Stop interrupting and arguing Nathan, this isn't the Crappy Quiz!!

[@jamiecunnane5240]

Joke of an interview by Nathan.

[@kevinodonnell5010]

Why bring the man on to give his opinion when the presenter constantly questions his opinions. Couldn't watch it all as it was a farce.

[@dermotoconnell3728]

Nathan you had a nightmare

[@billo19812]

I thought this was an interview, not a debate.

[@frankmurphy8786]

Something really wrong with the stance of that interviewer.

[@mahercontractors9168]

Nathan why are u afraid to say anything controversial. Windbag of an interview.

[@Mob135]

Interrupted so much i dont know what is going on. Terrible interview by Nathan. Give the man a chance, at least then the interview has a purpose.

[@jonathankearney9065]

Terrible interview Nathan (AGAIN) the lack of respect for a man that has devoted his life to our beautiful game! The cheek of you to cut him off as you did with the little bias I might add knowledge that you have evidentially … very disappointing stay away from GAA pal. Thanks Fergal for your great work 🙌🏼🙌🏼

[@cillianbarry7834]

Otb level of journalism is going down the toilet . Between this and ger saying Munster are sending buses to watch Leicester vs Leinster when it was family of James cronin traveling up in a small bus . Pure scutter

[@michaelharty3539]

Fergal you will be a great loss to the hurling world in my opinion you were one of the best referees if not the best any time you referee a game you left it Flow I would like to thank you for everything you have done you will be a big loss 2 hurling as for Croke Park too many big egos up there I wish you a happy retirement👍👍

[@JerryGarciaPOBox]

👍🏼

[@philipmatthewoconnor]

I swear OTB’s crew of gormless journos would be finished if the Second Captains guys (the orig. OTB crew) were still on the Radio. Made it to the 2min mark before posting this and jumping to a different channel.

[@patrickcoleman7997]

We have lost a great referee in Fergal , totally get what he is saying, and he knows what he is talking about, but not being let talk , I can see the frustration on his face , if Croke park were any good they would be begging him to come back, but there is zero chance of that , thanks Fergal for adding to the greatest game in the world.

[@martinryan3729]

Fergal thank you so so much for being the best referee since John Moloney if not the greatest ever..You restored my faith in officialdom.One knew when you were in charge that the game would run smoothly.You had the respect of the players and team management alike. No contact from the hierarchy in 2 weeks says it all about them..the silence is deafening so to speak.I had wondered 12 months ago or more why you hadn't got much matches or had you retired.One suspects the bully boys in the hierarchy like to be very passive aggressive when they want to be lay down the law.You were an outstanding County hurling goalie for Tipp in the 90s and thanks very much for bringing Tipp success.For one you knew the game and how to handle top players.You proved yourself once again with the interviewer in dealing with his attitude.Bravo ! A big loss to hurling ...I hope you change your mind and come back and alsoand become the Referee's chairman (if there is such)and demand the highest standards . As for the interviewer he needs to have a good look at himself in this interview (he can be much better)and make sure he is not so poor again.An NG if he was up for an exam

[@dermotoconnell3728]

Nathan who do you know in Croke park ..its pretty obvious

[@bicyclesauce]

Astonishing ignorance on display from Nathan Murphy here. Bottom of the barrell sports journalism here, just constant goading and spitting opinions before gaslighting fergal upon his responses. Clearly he put no effort in to research anything prior to the segment. Fergal handled it well

[@dpreynolds72]

My God Nathan you had a shocker, I can clearly see what Fergal is trying to say, of course their should be a grading of referees and build there way up to the big matches that can be overwhelming for anyone, We all want to see the best referees for he big games. SHOCKER.

[@gerrygfeeley6746]

I thought that was a brutal interview by the interviewer

[@gunneronfire]

I am not a fan of Fergals but if he has a grievance, let him tell it without being spoken to like a spoilt child! It would be sour grapes if he hadn't reffed 3 A.I.s. Consistency from Croker is what he was looking for.

[@terencebuckley6788]

Who thought it was a good idea for Nathan to conduct this interview, good grief!

[@kieranclancy8501]

Fairplay to you Nathan . . . How did you keep it together . . hilarious from start to finish .

[@criostoirnott3733]

Disgraceful interviewing performance from Nathan Murphy, as said by many. Watch back and cringe, Nathan. If there was an appointment process for interviewers as there is for referees, you would have to step away yourself as you would not be appointed further!!

[@seamusmcgrath8250]

Only on Irish media.

[@michaeloconnor9809]

Gaa top brass are and always have been the Fianna Fail or Fine Gael.of Irish sport. Always looking into situations, changing rules almost every winter time and above all they have no problems with off the ball violence and or verbals. If the 7 officials were empowered to send the thugs off gaelic games would be transformed. Instead we will in time have a 2nd referee on site. I salute this man for speaking out and not allowing himself to be taken for granted anymore.

[@dermotoconnell3728]

Nathan you said it yourself ..you are struggling

[@rogerc6757]

Disgraceful interview from Nathan Murphy. He should hone his skills a bit more when playing devil's advocate. Very pro Croke Park attitude.

[@AaronM-k8d]

Shocking from Nathan

[@ardmhuirecas]

Have to agree with most of the comments about Nathan massive lack of respect and knowledge of the game (hurling & football) ...would any coach select someone to play in a final even if that player hasn't trained nor played in any games leading up to it 😮

[@paulbergin5903]

Nathan you nob

[@JerryGarciaPOBox]

One of the last good refs leaves. What is the GAA bosses doing. Come to the states Fergal, we'll keep you really busy and take good care of ye. You're a loss! Thx for the years!

[@eoinmcsweeney2632]

Fergal Horgan is a legend. God bless you Fergal.

[@paulvictory691]

The GAA making decisions and implementing policy without including the key stakeholders….. never , that old boys club would never do that 🙄

[@Dellen-Roger]

Feral Horgan seems a sound chap.

[@johnocallaghan9252]

Afraid of being sued

[@brianhogan5390]

One of the strangest “interviews” I’ve ever heard. What was the point in bringing him on if you’re just going to lecture him. Horgan didn’t even really say anything controversial so I’m not sure what the need for “balance” was. It was also a great opportunity to ask him about hurling refs different styles (interpretation of the rules) at the moment. Surely a big reason why Keenan didn’t get another game last year was because of how much he let go in the Munster final. No real knowledge or research of the topic on the part of the interviewer.

[@Burkee85]

Facts, Facts and more Facts. Fergal talked sense but Nathan had a bloody nightmare.

[@patmc5474]

Fergal Horgan will be missed but good luck to him in his post GAA career👏.

[@kendaly1312]

Jesus Nathan 🤦‍♂️

[@johnlombard8962]

My question for Fergal would have been this "would you want to go back in but as a Croke park inter county referee picker probably when this panel retires"

[@HandleGF]

To be fair to the little postman, he would always give a yellow card... once a death cert was furnished.

[@ck1643]

Went down the wokery route of providing 'balance'.....that interview was embarrassing....the ref spoke in facts....how and why do u need balance to counter facts. Pure joke

[@maevemdc]

Awful "interview".Kept interrupting Fergal and missing his points entirely

[@kevinocallaghan7590]

This is why I stopped listening to OTB. Condescending interview. You are interviewing fergal he can say what he likes. Not your job to stand up for croke park!

[@MartinMcGrathrrttr]

My god fergal what a disgraceful carry on by Murphy his knowledge is shocking,hold your head high my friend, you're the best around by miles ,always had a bit of class.

[@jamess7948]

Your man thinks hes Ronaldo

[@librtyhair]

assumptions v facts , very bad Nathan

[@SoccerinMN]

Embarrassing out of the host. Fergal is talking total sense. Like every walk of life, you earn your stripes. Ref a few big game and then get bumped up. He is making up dumb comebacks. "How often does the sub ref come on"...lol. So why have a sub-ref then? A sub-Goalkeeper is rarely called upon but you don't put in a 12-year-old, you put in the second-best keeper in the country....same thing. I cannot get over how rational Fergal was and the host made a fool of himself, I think. The icing on the cake, a ref failing a fitness test and still getting game time.....how is that deemed ok!

[@padraigmcglynn3026]

That is bias he referees football I’m a ref and do both, but they’re very different and need particular refs skill sets. Footballs slower but hurlings fast and you need a finer eye

[@dermotcoyne3752]

Pure embarrassing from Nathan..

[@joewhelan5018]

Nathan Murphy has him on but isn't listening

[@thomasfahy7681]

Nathan Murphy seems biased towards Fergal

[@contakt23]

nathan seems to be looking for a job in rte , say no more

[@shanedoyle8933]

Some Craic

[@vincentloughnane83]

Nathan you haven't a clue.

[@tommybreen9677]

Jesus christ Nathan got absolutely burnt.