The GAA launched a 'Respect the Ref' campaign in October 2022 but last weekend showed that, one year on, the message is yet to hit home with some.
With Ireland eliminated from the Rugby World Cup, there is more airtime and more column inches available for Gaelic games but the headlines are again for the wrong reasons.
At O'Connor Park on Sunday, referee Barry Tiernan was pushed to the ground after taking charge of Meath champions Summerhill's 1-09 to 1-07 win over Tullamore in the Leinster Club SFC.
Dublin ref Tiernan had changed his mind after awarding a penalty to the hosts, deep into injury-time.
After the final whistle, a number of people attempted to accost him as he was being escorted from the pitch, before he was approached from behind by a supporter and pushed in the back.
"I saw it myself and I can't deny it, a disgraceful incident," Offaly chairman Michael Duignan told RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport.
"There was a bit of controversy at the end where the referee awarded a penalty and then it was overruled and obviously the players were frustrated and they were remonstrating.
"But there was no danger, the players were well away from the ref coming off the field. The Tullamore team are a very sporting team, just disappointed, which you would be.
"But somebody came in from the terrace then and pushed the referee from behind so it was terrible. It's a very, very tough job and I would have had my arguments over the years with refs but you wouldn't dream about laying a finger on a referee.
"So look, I'm very sorry it happened here today and I'm sure it'll be dealt with in due course."
Leinster GAA are expected to investigate and the individual involved could face a lengthy ban if they are a member of the association and found to have assaulted Tiernan.
At its annual congress last February, the GAA raised the minimum suspension for assaulting an official to 96 weeks, with a 192-week minimum for repeat offenders.
'Minor physical interference' with an official carries a minimum 12-week ban while supporters who are not members of the association can still be banned from attending GAA grounds.
The club game has been more in the spotlight since the GAA introduced the split-season for 2022 but there were several high-profile unwelcome incidents late last year.
A GAA mentor in Wexford was jailed for punching referee Michael Lanigan at a junior football game last September while a weekend of fixtures was cancelled in Roscommon due to a referees strike in protest at an alleged assault there that is still before the courts.
Last week, Wexford's underage competitions control committee proposed a 10-year ban and five-year stadium ban on a Rapparees-Starlights supporter for allegedly threatening referee Collie Byrne, a former Wexford footballer, following an under-16 hurling match.
"The actions of a small number of members of our association have undoubtedly cast a shadow over the entire association" - GAA president Larry McCarthy speaking in October 2022
A survey of over 400 Gaelic games officials last year found that 94% had experienced verbal abuse during their career and 23% had experienced some form of physical abuse.
Verbal abuse was mostly experienced two or more times a season, was more frequently encountered by younger and less experienced match officials and was mostly received from (in order of ranking) managers/coaches, spectators and players. Physical abuse was mostly experienced once or twice in a career and was mostly perpetrated by players and spectators.
At the launch of the 'Respect the Ref' campaign GAA president Larry McCarthy said it was "one small step in changing a culture" also commenting that "the actions of a small number of members of our association have undoubtedly cast a shadow over the entire association."
Earlier this month, the GAA participated in a joint campaign with the FAI and IRFU to promote respect for players, officials and volunteers.
Watch the Dublin Hurling Championship final, Na Fianna v Ballyboden St Endas, on Sunday from 4.20pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player with updates from all games on Sunday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1
