All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final referees

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The Liam MacCarthy Cup LiamMacCarthy Cup.jpg
The Liam MacCarthy Cup

In hurling, the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final, the deciding match of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship competition, is considered the highest honour for referees to be appointed to officiate.

Contents

The most recent final (2021) was refereed by Fergal Horgan, with James Owens on standby; Sean Stack as linesman; Liam Gordon on the sideline; and three umpires from Horgan's club Knockavilla Donaskeigh Kickhams and one umpire from Cashel King Cormacs. [1]

Selection

Men who referee a final that ends in a draw cannot also referee the replay. This rule was highlighted in 2019 when David Gough — thought by consensus to have had a good game — was replaced by Conor Lane for the replay. Colm O'Rourke in the Sunday Independent column, "The GAA's view that the referee of a drawn game cannot take the replay defies common sense and logic. Why disqualify a referee when he has done a good job? If the referee is not up to it then certainly he should be left off, but when there is almost universal agreement that he is the best referee in the country then give him all the big games and replays too. The players want the best referees". [2]

Referees are chosen by the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) for their impartiality and their assessed performance scores over that championship season. A clue to the identity of the final referee may be found among those chosen to referee the All-Ireland quarter-finals. [3] In recent years, a referee who has overseen an All-Ireland semi-final is never chosen for the final. However, he has tended to have refereed a quarter-final. [3]

When the decision is made, the identity of the referee chosen is revealed following the All-Ireland semi-finals and ahead of the final. A period of media attention may ensue, sometimes even before the announcement has been made. [3] It can be a referee's lifetime goal to get this game. [4]

Referees

Pre-1923

YearRefereeReferee's clubCo.Ref(s)
1887 Pauric White Offaly
1889 P. Tobin Dublin
1890 John Sheehy Limerick
1891 P. Tobin Dublin
1892 Dan Fraher Waterford
1893 J. J. Kenny Dublin
1894 J. J. Kenny Dublin
1895 J. J. Kenny Dublin
1896 D. Wood Dublin
1897 J. J. McCabe Dublin
1898 J. J. McCabe Dublin
1899 A. McKeogh Dublin
1900 John McCarthy Kilkenny
1901 John McCarthy Kilkenny
1902 L. J. O'Toole Dublin
1903 John McCarthy Kilkenny
1904 M. F. Crowe
1905 M. F. Crowe
1906 T. Irwin Cork
1907 M. F. Crowe
1908 (draw) T. Irwin Cork
1908 (replay) J. McCarthy
1909 M. F. Crowe
1910 M. F. Crowe
1911 ?
1912 M. F. Crowe
1913 M. F. Crowe
1914 John Lalor
1915 Willie Walsh Waterford [5]
1916 Willie Walsh Waterford [5]
1917 Willie Walsh Waterford
1918 Willie Walsh Waterford
1919 Willie Walsh Waterford
1920 T. McGrath Clare
1921 Willie Walsh Waterford
1922 Pat Dunphy Laois [5]

1923 to 1969: Introduction of the Liam MacCarthy Cup

YearRefereeReferee's clubCo.Ref(s)
1923 Pat Kennefick Cork
1924 Pádraig Ó Caoimh Cork
1925 Pat McCullagh Wexford
1926 Pat McCullagh Wexford
1927 Dinny Lanigan Limerick
1928 John Roberts Kilkenny
1929 Seán Robbins Offaly
1930 Stephen Jordan Galway
1931 (draw) Seán Robbins Offaly
1931 (replay) Seán Robbins Offaly
1931 (2nd replay) Willie Walsh Waterford
1932 Seán Robbins Offaly
1933 Stephen Jordan Galway
1934 (draw) Stephen Jordan Galway
1934 (replay) Stephen Jordan Galway
1935 Tommy Daly Clare
1936 Jim O'Regan Cork
1937 Jim Flaherty Offaly
1938 Ignatius Harney Galway
1939 Jim Flaherty Offaly
1940 John Joe Callanan Tipperary
1941 Bill O'Donnell Tipperary
1942 Mick Hennessy Clare
1943 J. J. Stuart Dublin
1944 Mick Hennessy Clare
1945 Vin Baston Waterford
1946 Jim Flaherty Offaly
1947 Phil Purcell Tipperary
1948 Con Murphy Cork
1949 M. J. Flaherty Galway
1950 Con Murphy Cork
1951 Bill O'Donoghue Limerick
1952 Bill O'Donoghue Limerick
1953 Paddy Connell Offaly
1954 Jack Mulcahy Kilkenny
1955 Bob Stakelum Tipperary
1956 T. O'Sullivan
1957 Steve Gleeson
1958 Matt Spain
1959 (draw) Gerry Fitzgerald
1959 (replay) Gerry Fitzgerald
1960 John Dowling Offaly [6]
1961 Gerry Fitzgerald
1962 John Dowling Offaly
1963 Jimmy Hatton Wicklow
1964 Aubrey Higgins
1965 Mick Hayes
1966 Jimmy Hatton Wicklow
1967 Mick Hayes
1968 John Dowling Offaly
1969 Seán O'Connor Limerick

1970 to 1996

YearRefereeReferee's clubCo.Ref(s)
1970 Jimmy Hatton Wicklow
1971 Frank Murphy Cork
1972 Mick Spain Offaly
1973 Mick Slattery Clare
1974 John Moloney Tipperary
1975 Seán O'Connor Limerick
1976 Paddy Johnston Kilkenny
1977 Seán O'Grady
1978 Jimmy Rankins
1979 Ger Ryan
1980 Noel O'Donoghue
1981 Frank Murphy Cork
1982 Noel O'Donoghue
1983 . Neilly

Duggan

1984 Paschal Long
1985 Ger Ryan
1986 J. F. Bailey Dublin
1987 Terence Murray Limerick
1988 Gerry Kirwan Offaly
1989 Pat Delaney Laois
1990 John Moore Waterford
1991 Willie Horgan Cork
1992 Dickie Murphy Wexford
1993 Terence Murray Limerick
1994 Willie Barrett Tipperary
1995 Dickie Murphy Wexford
1996 Pat Horan Offaly

1997 to present

Barry Kelly refereed the 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2014 finals. Barry Kelly (referee).jpg
Barry Kelly refereed the 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2014 finals.
YearRefereeReferee's clubCo.Ref(s)
1997 Dickie Murphy Wexford
1998 Dickie Murphy Wexford
1999 Pat O'Connor Limerick
2000 Willie Barrett Tipperary
2001 Pat O'Connor Limerick
2002 Aodán Mac Suibhne Dublin
2003 Pat O'Connor Limerick
2004 Aodán Mac Suibhne Dublin
2005 Séamus Roche Tipperary
2006 Barry Kelly St Oliver Plunkett's Westmeath
2007 Diarmuid Kirwan Cork
2008 Barry Kelly St Oliver Plunkett's Westmeath
2009 Diarmuid Kirwan Cork
2010 Michael Wadding Waterford [7]
2011 Brian Gavin Offaly [8] [9]
2012 (draw) Barry Kelly St Oliver Plunkett's Westmeath [10] [11]
2012 (replay) James McGrath Turin Westmeath
2013 (draw) Brian Gavin Offaly [12] [13] [14]
2013 (replay) James McGrath Turin Westmeath [15]
2014 (draw) Barry Kelly St Oliver Plunkett's Westmeath [16] [17]
2014 (replay) Brian Gavin Offaly [18] [19]
2015 James Owens Wexford [20]
2016 Brian Gavin Offaly [21] [22]
2017 Fergal Horgan Tipperary [23] [24]
2018 James Owens Wexford [25]
2019 James Owens Wexford [26]
2020 Fergal Horgan Tipperary
2021 Fergal Horgan Tipperary [27]
2022 Colm Lyons Cork [28] [29]

By county

Since 1997
Co.Number of finalsYears
Westmeath 62006, 2008, 2012 (draw), 2012 (replay), 2013 (replay), 2014 (draw)
Wexford 51997, 1998, 2015, 2018, 2019
Tipperary 52000, 2005, 2017, 2020, 2021
Offaly 42011, 2013 (draw), 2014 (replay), 2016
Limerick 31999, 2001, 2003
Cork 32007, 2009, 2022
Dublin 22002, 2004
Waterford 12010

Referees with more than one final

 Bold  = referee still active at inter-county level

RefereeNumber of finalsYears
M. F. Crowe71904, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1910, 1912, 1913
Willie Walsh 71915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1921, 1931 (2nd replay)
J. McCarthy41900, 1901, 1903, 1908 (replay)
Seán Robbins 41929, 1931 (draw), 1931 (replay), 1932
Stephen Jordan 41930, 1933, 1934 (draw), 1934 (replay)
Dickie Murphy 41992, 1995, 1997, 1998
Barry Kelly 42006, 2008, 2012 (draw), 2014 (draw)
Brian Gavin 42011, 2013 (draw), 2014 (replay), 2016
J. J. Kenny31893, 1894, 1895
Jim Flaherty 31937, 1939, 1946
Gerry Fitzgerald 31959 (draw), 1959 (replay), 1961
John Dowling 31960, 1962, 1968
Jimmy Hatton 31963, 1966, 1970
Pat O'Connor 31999, 2001, 2003
  James Owens  32015, 2018, 2019
  Fergal Horgan  32017, 2020, 2021
J. J. McCabe21897, 1898
P. Tobin21889, 1891
Tom Irwin 21906, 1908 (draw)
Pat McCullagh 21925, 1926
Mick Hennessy 21942, 1944
Con Murphy 21948, 1950
Bill O'Donoghue 21951, 1952
Mick Hayes 21965, 1967
Seán O'Connor 21969, 1975
Noel O'Donoghue 21980, 1982
George Ryan 21979, 1985
Aodán Mac Suibhne 22002, 2004
Diarmuid Kirwan 22007, 2009
James McGrath 22012 (replay), 2013 (replay)

See also

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References

  1. "GAA confirms Fergal Horgan to referee the 2021 GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Final". www.gaa.ie. GAA website. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  2. O'Rourke, Colm (8 September 2019). "There will be fire in Dublin bellies like never before after below-par show". Sunday Independent . p. 8. Retrieved 8 September 2019. The original title (as published) was "Nothing more dangerous than a wounded lion", with the subheading the same as here.
  3. 1 2 3 Diallo, Raf (13 August 2019). "The David Gough 'Ref-erendum'" . Retrieved 13 August 2019. To discuss the matter, … former inter-county referee Pat McEnaney joined us … said it's not the only instance when referee selection was a bone of contention. 'If we go back even to 2015 and Dublin vs Kerry, David Coldrick refereed it and there was quite a bit of talk about that one as well,' said McEnaney… McEnaney emphasised that Coldrick acquitted himself well in 2015 despite all the talk. He also discussed the process of selecting final referees, including how 2019 would progress… 'If you look at how they went about it this year, David Gough did a quarter-final. [You also had] Paddy Neilaan[sic], Joe McQuillan and David Coldrick as your four referees. So you'd fancy one of them to come from that quarter-final and to me it's looking like David Gough. Because if you even look at the appointments for the quarter-final actually, he refereed Dublin and Cork,' said McEnaney… 'And I think that was the game he went to his umpires and turned it around. From memory, I thought he was very good that day. It's probably based on that performance that he's possibly favourite for the All-Ireland final.'
  4. Verney, Michael (24 August 2015). "James Owens realises 'lifetime goal' to be named All-Ireland hurling final referee". Irish Independent. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 O'Connell, Cian (9 December 2016). "1916 All Ireland referees remembered".
  6. "The sad loss of a GAA legend". Irish Independent . 11 February 2002.
  7. "Wadding 'thrilled' to ref final". Irish Examiner . 2010-08-18. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
  8. "Offaly's Gavin to ref hurling decider". RTÉ Sport. 16 August 2011. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  9. "Gavin to referee All-Ireland SHC final". Irish Examiner. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  10. "Who will take hurling's big prize?". Hogan Stand. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
  11. "Barry Kelly confirmed as referee for All-Ireland hurling final". RTÉ Sport. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
  12. "Gavin gets nod to referee All-Ireland final". Irish Examiner. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  13. "Brian Gavin appointed as All-Ireland senior hurling final referee". The Score. 27 August 2013. Archived from the original on 1 September 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  14. "Offaly's Brian Gavin to take charge of All-Ireland hurling decider". Westmeath Independent. 26 August 2013. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  15. "James McGrath in charge of All Ireland hurling replay". Irish Independent. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  16. "Barry Kelly to referee All Ireland final". Irish Independent. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  17. "Barry Kelly to referee Tipperary and Kilkenny in All-Ireland hurling final". The Score. 25 August 2014. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  18. "Offaly's Brian Gavin to ref All-Ireland hurling replay between Kilkenny and Tipperary". Irish Independent. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  19. "Gavin set to take charge of All-Ireland replay". Irish Examiner. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
  20. Moran, Seán (24 August 2015). "Wexford's James Owens to referee All-Ireland hurling final". Irish Times. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  21. "A familiar face will referee the All-Ireland hurling final between Kilkenny and Tipperary". The 42. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  22. "Offalyman Brian Gavin to ref All-Ireland SHC final". RTE Sport. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
  23. "Tipperary's Fergal Horgan to referee All-Ireland senior hurling final". Irish Independent. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  24. "Tipperary native Fergal Horgan appointed as All-Ireland hurling final referee". The 42. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
  25. "Wexford's Owens to take charge of Limerick-Galway All-Ireland hurling final". The 42. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
  26. "James Owens to referee hurling final for second year running". Irish Times. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  27. "GAA confirms Fergal Horgan to referee the 2021 GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Final". www.gaa.ie. GAA website. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 11 August 2021.
  28. "Confirmed: Cork's Colm Lyons appointed for All-Ireland hurling final". Irish Examiner. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  29. "Colm Lyons to referee All-Ireland SHC Final". GAA.ie. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.