Brendan Cawley

Brendan Cawley is a Gaelic football referee and a member of the National Referees Panel. ^[1]

A member of the Sarsfields GAA club in County Kildare, ^{[2] [3]} Cawley was appointed to the National Referees Panel in 2019, ^[4] and took charge of the 2023 National Football League final, ^[5] the All-Ireland Club Senior Football Championship final in 2024, ^[6] and the 2025 Ulster Senior Football Championship final. ^{[7] [8]}

Cawley was tested with the 2024 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final between Armagh and Kerry. ^[9] On 14 July, the Irish Examiner reported on its website that Cawley was the leading contender to referee the 2025 All Ireland final. ^[10] The next day, he was appointed for his first final as referee. ^{[11] [12]} It would be his 30th SFC match. ^[13] He was also the first Kildare referee since 2005, ^[14] and seventh overall. ^[15] But it is his third final to be involved in overall as he was a linesman in both 2021 and 2024. ^[16]

The dominance of Sarsfields in the Kildare Senior Football Championship meant Cawley did not referee a final there until 2022 and by the time of his first All Ireland final he had refereed the county final in 2024 as well. ^[17]

The ‘’Belfast Telegraph’’, described Cawley in 2025 as “a diligent, capable whistler who allows play to flow but is quick to intercede when rough play ensues”. ^[18] Cahair O'Kane, journalist with ‘’The Irish News’’, called Cawley in 2025 "alongside Sean Hurson as the best referee in the country the last couple of years". ^[19] However, Jim McGuinness criticised decisions Cawley made during Donegal's loss to Galway in the 2024 semi-final, saying “There were a number that we weren't happy with. In the first minute, Ryan McHugh was breaking through, had two men pulling at him and he was blown for over-carrying“. ^[20]

References

1. Callaghan, Tommy (25 April 2019). "Croke Park confirms Kildare's Brendan Cawley on referee championship panel". Kildare Live. Retrieved 12 May 2025. As disclosed last week in the Leinster Leader, Kildare's Brendan Cawley has been officially named on the elite panel of referees for this season's football championship by the Referees Development Committee.
2. Beatty, Eoin. "Sarsfields Club-Man Brendan Cawley Named To Referee All-Ireland Club Final". K FM. Retrieved 12 May 2025. Sarsfields club-man Brendan Cawley has been named to referee the All Ireland Senior Club Football Championship Final.
3. Callaghan, Tommy (4 July 2022). "Kildare man to take charge of All-Ireland semi-final". Kildare Live. Retrieved 12 May 2025. A member of the Sarsfields Club, Brendan will take charge of the All-Ireland semi-final this Saturday
4. "New faces on Referees Panel for Championship 2019". Down GAA. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
5. "Kildare official confirmed for Division 1 league final between Mayo and Galway". The Connaught Telegraph. 29 March 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2025. Kildare official Brendan Cawley will referee Sunday's Allianz National Football League Division 1 final between Mayo and Galway at Croke Park
6. "Cawley and Stack to referee AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Finals". GAA.ie. 11 January 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
7. "Referees named for Ulster and Leinster SFC Finals". GAA.ie. 5 May 2025. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
8. Craig, Frank (7 May 2025). "Brendan Cawley appointed to take charge of Donegal and Armagh". Donegal Live. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
9. "Kildare referee to take charge of All-Ireland Football Final". kildare-nationalist.ie. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
10. "GAA unlikely to punish Donegal and Meath for early parade departure". irishexaminer.com. 14 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
11. "Brendan Cawley appointed referee for Kerry–Donegal football decider". rte.ie. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
12. "Kildare's Brendan Cawley to referee the All-Ireland senior football final". the42.ie. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
13. "Brendan Cawley to referee All-Ireland SFC Final". GAA.ie. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
14. "Kildare referee to take charge of All-Ireland Football Final". kildare-nationalist.ie. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
15. "Cawley following in some illustrious footsteps". kildare-nationalist.ie. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 24 July 2025.
16. "Kildare referee to take charge of All-Ireland Football Final". kildare-nationalist.ie. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
17. "Kildare referee to take charge of All-Ireland Football Final". kildare-nationalist.ie. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 18 July 2025.
18. "Meet the top referee taking charge of his first All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final". belfasttelegraph.co.uk. 19 July 2025. Retrieved 19 July 2025.
19. "GAA fans react to referee Brendan Cawley being handed All-Ireland football final gig". Pundit Arena . 15 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.
20. "Brendan Cawley to referee All-Ireland SFC final". irishexaminer.com. 15 July 2025. Retrieved 25 July 2025.