A new documentary which shines a light on the abuse directed at Gaelic football referees will be broadcast on the BBC this weekend.

Réiteoir!, produced by Macha Media for BBC Gaeilge and RTE with support from Northern Ireland Screen’s Irish Language Broadcast Fund, will be shown on BBC Two NI and the BBC iPlayer tonight at 22:00 GMT.

In the hour-long documentary, broadcaster Gráinne McElwain explores the challenges that come with being a modern GAA referee by following officials David Gough, Siobhán Coyle and Eoghan Ó Muircheartaigh throughout the 2024 season.

The documentary considers the emotional toll of the abuse on referees and reveals findings from a recent Ulster University study, led by Dr Noel Brick.

As part of Dr Brick's study, 96% of referees said they had received verbal abuse at some point during their career, with 20% claiming they had received physical abuse.

In a follow-up study focused on the 2022-23 season, 88% of referees said they had experienced verbal abuse, a statistic Dr Brick said was "shockingly high".

Read more here.

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Last night in Division One, Armagh claimed a crucial two points at the Athletic Grounds with a 1-20 to 1-12 victory over Dublin.

Conor Turbitt top-scored for the victors with 0-6 whilst Andrew Murnin impressed in a deeper role and Greg McCabe stormed forward from defence, contributing three points.

Armagh's start could hardly have been any better, as they had 1-9 on the scoreboard before Dublin raised their first white flag of the evening.

Turbitt led the way with three of those points while his Clann Eireann clubmate Barry McCambridge found the net on 16 minutes – drilling his shot into the bottom corner after a pinpoint pass from Ethan Rafferty.

Turbitt could have had two goals himself, but he had one effort blocked by full back Theo Clancy, and another shot saved by Evan Comerford at point-blank range.

The Dubs struggled to make much headway in attack in the first half, with just three points scored via Con O'Callaghan, Brian Howard and Luke Breathnach.

Armagh pushed themselves 15 points ahead early in the second half, but Dublin rattled off 1-7 without reply to pull themselves back into the contest. O'Callaghan hit five points during this period and set up Lorcan O'Dell's goal.

However, Armagh steadied the tide with a score from McCabe and grabbed four of the last six points of the day to see out the win.

The result moves them three points above the relegation zone.

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Paddy Tally makes six changes to the Derry side named in the match programme with Odhran Lynch replacing Neil McNicholl in nets.

Martin Bradley replaces Mark Doherty and Padraig McGrogan comes in for Declan Cassidy in the Oakleaf defence.

In the Derry forward line - Ciaran McFaul is out completely with Patrick McGurk taking his place on the bench as Lachlan Murray starts, Dan Higgins replaces Ben McCarron while Niall Toner is out and replaced by Niall Loughlin at top of the right.

Jim McGuinness makes one change to the Donegal team as Mark Curran replaces Peadar Mogan.

You could make a real argument that the result of this game will mean an awful lot more to Derry than the hosts given their position in the table.

The Oakleafers are sit rooted to the bottom of the top tier, taking one point from their first four games, and if the league champions are to have any chance of retaining their Division One status, one would assume two points today would be vital.

Ciaran McFaul returns to the fray in the one change from the side which lost heavily to Dublin in Croke Park last Saturday night.

Donegal tasted defeat for the first time in Salthill last weekend at the hands of a rampant Galway , who were playing with the aid of a gale force breeze in the first half.

The one note from Jim McGuinness' team list is that Michael Murphy is listed on the panel for only the second time this year after his dramatic three-point cameo in their win over Armagh a fortnight ago.

Of course we could see some potential sparring from the two sides today as they meet in the preliminary round of the Ulster championship in Ballybofey in little over a month.

A bumper crowd is expected here at Father Tierney Park with not much win to report as it stands.

If there are to be any changes before Mayo referee Jerome Henry throws the ball in we'll bring them to you!

Donegal: Shaun Patton; Peadar Mogan, Brendan McCole, Eoghan Ban Gallagher, Ryan McHugh, Caolan McGonagle, Ciaran Moore; Ciaran Thompson, Hugh McFadden; Shane O'Donnell, Niall O'Donnell, Daire O Baoill; Conor O'Donnell, Oisin Gallen, Jamie Brennan.

Subs: Gavin Mulreany, Mark Curran, Odhran McFadden Ferry, Caolan McColgan, Eoin McHugh, Jack McKelvey, Michael Murphy, Odhran Doherty, Jonny Carlin, Domhnall Mac Giolla Bhride, Charles McGuinness.

Derry: Neil McNicholl; Diarmuid Baker, Eoin McEvoy, Mark Doherty; Conor Doherty, Brendan Rogers, Declan Cassidy; Conor Glass, Anton Tohill; Ciaran McFaul, Paul Cassidy, Ethan Doherty; Ben McCarron, Shane McGuigan, Niall Toner.

Subs: Odhran Lynch, Ryan Mulholland, Niall Loughlin, Padraig McGrogan, Martin Bradley, Dan Higgins, Lachlan Murray, Callum McGrogan, Caolan Devlin, Cahir McMonagle, Jody McDermott.

Image source, BBC Sport

With just three games remaining, Derry and Tyrone need to get a move on.

Holders Derry have just one point from four games. Life under Paddy Tally has been a struggle so far and they face a tall order against Donegal in Ballyshannon.

While the Ulster champions fell to Galway last week, they have looked slick in the early rounds and comfortably dispatched Armagh in their last home game.

And having rested Michael Murphy against Galway, Jim McGuinness may be tempted to afford the 2012 All-Ireland winner more minutes on Sunday.

This is, of course, the counties' first meeting since last year's Ulster Championship quarter-final at Celtic Park when Donegal ran riot with four goals to end Derry's reign as provincial kingpins.

While Derry are bottom, Tyrone are in similar bother near the foot of the table. Malachy O'Rourke's side beat Derry in their opener but have lost three on the spin since and face a daunting trip to pacesetters Galway.

But while they were undone by David Clifford's three-goal blitz last week, Tyrone were buoyed by the return of their Errigal Ciaran contingent, with Darragh Canavan coming off the bench to hit 1-4.

In Division Two, Monaghan will hope to strengthen their place at the top when they travel to Louth, whilst in hurling, Antrim are away to Carlow desperately hoping for a win as they fight relegation.

We will have live text commentary of the Donegal v Derry game as well as score updates from Galway v Tyrone and reports from the other games.

Thanks for joining us - enjoy!

Image source, Inpho