Referee at centre of Brian Gavin controversy reportedly resigns

More trouble in Offaly.

The man at the centre of a complaint against referee Brian Gavin has reportedly quit his role as chairman of underage GAA in Offaly and will no longer referee either. Gavin won his appeal to the Offaly Central Competitions Control Committee two weeks ago after being initially banned for a month over alleged abuse directed towards referee Pauric Pierce during a junior club game. However a Hearings Committee cleared Gavin of any wrongdoing and he was allowed to continue his role as Clara chairman and take charge of Kilkenny's All-Ireland hurling semi-final with Waterford earlier this month. Gavin told local newspaper the Tullamore Tribune last week that he denied making any abusive comments to the referee about his health, while Pierce himself alleged that he was indeed abused during the game and is understood to have been upset at the Hearings Committee decision. The story has now added another chapter as the newspaper is reporting this morning that Pierce has resigned as referee and chairman of the under-age board in the country after the controversy. https://twitter.com/ballinagarman/status/633731264227491840 H/T Hoganstand.com