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.

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

Year Referee Referee's club Co. Ref(s)
1887Pauric WhiteOffaly
1889P. TobinDublin
1890John SheehyLimerick
1891P. TobinDublin
1892Dan FraherWaterford
1893J. J. KennyDublin
1894J. J. KennyDublin
1895J. J. KennyDublin
1896D. WoodDublin
1897J. J. McCabeDublin
1898J. J. McCabeDublin
1899A. McKeoghDublin
1900John McCarthyKilkenny
1901John McCarthyKilkenny
1902L. J. O'TooleDublin
1903John McCarthyKilkenny
1904M. F. Crowe
1905M. F. Crowe
1906T. IrwinCork
1907M. F. Crowe
1908 (draw)T. IrwinCork
1908 (replay)J. McCarthy
1909M. F. Crowe
1910M. F. Crowe
1911?
1912M. F. Crowe
1913M. F. Crowe
1914John Lalor
1915Willie WalshWaterford[5]
1916Willie WalshWaterford[5]
1917Willie WalshWaterford
1918Willie WalshWaterford
1919Willie WalshWaterford
1920T. McGrathClare
1921Willie WalshWaterford
1922Pat DunphyLaois[5]

1923 to 1969: Introduction of the Liam MacCarthy Cup

Year Referee Referee's club Co. Ref(s)
1923Pat KennefickCork
1924Pádraig Ó CaoimhCork
1925Pat McCullaghWexford
1926Pat McCullaghWexford
1927Dinny LaniganLimerick
1928John RobertsKilkenny
1929Seán RobbinsOffaly
1930Stephen JordanGalway
1931 (draw)Seán RobbinsOffaly
1931 (replay)Seán RobbinsOffaly
1931 (2nd replay)Willie WalshWaterford
1932Seán RobbinsOffaly
1933Stephen JordanGalway
1934 (draw)Stephen JordanGalway
1934 (replay)Stephen JordanGalway
1935Tommy DalyClare
1936Jim O'ReganCork
1937Jim FlahertyOffaly
1938Ignatius HarneyGalway
1939Jim FlahertyOffaly
1940John Joe CallananTipperary
1941Bill O'DonnellTipperary
1942Mick HennessyClare
1943J. J. StuartDublin
1944Mick HennessyClare
1945Vin BastonWaterford
1946Jim FlahertyOffaly
1947Phil PurcellTipperary
1948Con MurphyCork
1949M. J. FlahertyGalway
1950Con MurphyCork
1951Bill O'DonoghueLimerick
1952Bill O'DonoghueLimerick
1953Paddy ConnellOffaly
1954Jack MulcahyKilkenny
1955Bob StakelumTipperary
1956T. O'Sullivan
1957Steve Gleeson
1958Matt Spain
1959 (draw)Gerry Fitzgerald
1959 (replay)Gerry Fitzgerald
1960John DowlingOffaly[6]
1961Gerry Fitzgerald
1962John DowlingOffaly
1963Jimmy HattonWicklow
1964Aubrey Higgins
1965Mick Hayes
1966Jimmy HattonWicklow
1967Mick Hayes
1968John DowlingOffaly
1969Seán O'ConnorLimerick

1970 to 1996

Year Referee Referee's club Co. Ref(s)
1970Jimmy HattonWicklow
1971Frank MurphyCork
1972Mick SpainOffaly
1973Mick SlatteryClare
1974John MoloneyTipperary
1975Seán O'ConnorLimerick
1976Paddy JohnstonKilkenny
1977Seán O'Grady
1978Jimmy Rankins
1979Ger Ryan
1980Noel O'Donoghue
1981Frank MurphyCork
1982Noel O'Donoghue
1983. Neilly

Duggan

1984Paschal Long
1985Ger Ryan
1986J. F. BaileyDublin
1987Terence MurrayLimerick
1988Gerry KirwanOffaly
1989Pat DelaneyLaois
1990John MooreWaterford
1991Willie HorganCork
1992Dickie MurphyWexford
1993Terence MurrayLimerick
1994Willie BarrettTipperary
1995Dickie MurphyWexford
1996Pat HoranOffaly

1997 to present

Barry Kelly refereed the 2006, 2008, 2012 and 2014 finals.
Year Referee Referee's club Co. Ref(s)
1997Dickie MurphyWexford
1998Dickie MurphyWexford
1999Pat O'ConnorLimerick
2000Willie BarrettTipperary
2001Pat O'ConnorLimerick
2002Aodán Mac SuibhneDublin
2003Pat O'ConnorLimerick
2004Aodán Mac SuibhneDublin
2005Séamus RocheTipperary
2006Barry KellySt Oliver Plunkett'sWestmeath
2007Diarmuid KirwanCork
2008Barry KellySt Oliver Plunkett'sWestmeath
2009Diarmuid KirwanCork
2010Michael WaddingWaterford[7]
2011Brian GavinOffaly[8][9]
2012 (draw)Barry KellySt Oliver Plunkett'sWestmeath[10][11]
2012 (replay)James McGrathTurinWestmeath
2013 (draw)Brian GavinOffaly[12][13][14]
2013 (replay)James McGrathTurinWestmeath[15]
2014 (draw)Barry KellySt Oliver Plunkett'sWestmeath[16][17]
2014 (replay)Brian GavinOffaly[18][19]
2015James OwensWexford[20]
2016Brian GavinOffaly[21][22]
2017Fergal HorganTipperary[23][24]
2018James OwensWexford[25]
2019James OwensWexford[26]
2020Fergal HorganTipperary
2021Fergal HorganTipperary[27]
2022Colm LyonsCork[28][29]

By county

Since 1997
Co. Number of finals Years
Westmeath 6 2006, 2008, 2012 (draw), 2012 (replay), 2013 (replay), 2014 (draw)
Wexford 5 1997, 1998, 2015, 2018, 2019
Tipperary 5 2000, 2005, 2017, 2020, 2021
Offaly 4 2011, 2013 (draw), 2014 (replay), 2016
Limerick 3 1999, 2001, 2003
Cork 3 2007, 2009, 2022
Dublin 2 2002, 2004
Waterford 1 2010

Referees with more than one final

 Bold  = referee still active at inter-county level

Referee Number of finals Years
M. F. Crowe 7 1904, 1905, 1907, 1909, 1910, 1912, 1913
Willie Walsh 7 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1921, 1931 (2nd replay)
J. McCarthy 4 1900, 1901, 1903, 1908 (replay)
Seán Robbins 4 1929, 1931 (draw), 1931 (replay), 1932
Stephen Jordan 4 1930, 1933, 1934 (draw), 1934 (replay)
Dickie Murphy 4 1992, 1995, 1997, 1998
Barry Kelly 4 2006, 2008, 2012 (draw), 2014 (draw)
Brian Gavin 4 2011, 2013 (draw), 2014 (replay), 2016
J. J. Kenny 3 1893, 1894, 1895
Jim Flaherty 3 1937, 1939, 1946
Gerry Fitzgerald 3 1959 (draw), 1959 (replay), 1961
John Dowling 3 1960, 1962, 1968
Jimmy Hatton 3 1963, 1966, 1970
Pat O'Connor 3 1999, 2001, 2003
 James Owens  3 2015, 2018, 2019
 Fergal Horgan  3 2017, 2020, 2021
J. J. McCabe 2 1897, 1898
P. Tobin 2 1889, 1891
Tom Irwin 2 1906, 1908 (draw)
Pat McCullagh 2 1925, 1926
Mick Hennessy 2 1942, 1944
Con Murphy 2 1948, 1950
Bill O'Donoghue 2 1951, 1952
Mick Hayes 2 1965, 1967
Seán O'Connor 2 1969, 1975
Noel O'Donoghue 2 1980, 1982
George Ryan 2 1979, 1985
Aodán Mac Suibhne 2 2002, 2004
Diarmuid Kirwan 2 2007, 2009
James McGrath 2 2012 (replay), 2013 (replay)

See also

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.
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