All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final referees
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 (2024) was refereed by Johnny Murphy. The 2021 final 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
[edit]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
[edit]Pre-1923
[edit]| Year | Referee | Referee's club | Co. | 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
[edit]1970 to 1996
[edit]1997 to present
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By county
[edit]- 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 |
| Limerick | 4 | 1999, 2001, 2003, 2024 |
| Offaly | 4 | 2011, 2013 (draw), 2014 (replay), 2016 |
| Cork | 3 | 2007, 2009, 2022 |
| Dublin | 2 | 2002, 2004 |
| Waterford | 1 | 2010 |
| Wicklow | 1 | 2023 |
Referees with more than one final
[edit]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) |
- Pat Dunphy (1922) has the distinction of also taking charge of the 1922 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Final in the same year.[5]
- John Dowling (1960) has the distinction of also taking charge of the 1960 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final in the same year.
- Jimmy Hatton (1966) has the distinction of also taking charge of the 1966 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final in the same year.
See also
[edit]- FA Cup Final referees, the closest the English have
References
[edit]- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c 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.'
- ^ Verney, Michael (24 August 2015). "James Owens realises 'lifetime goal' to be named All-Ireland hurling final referee". Irish Independent. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- ^ a b c d O'Connell, Cian (9 December 2016). "1916 All Ireland referees remembered".
- ^ "The sad loss of a GAA legend". Irish Independent. 11 February 2002.
- ^ "Wadding 'thrilled' to ref final". Irish Examiner. 2010-08-18. Retrieved 2010-08-20.
- ^ "Offaly's Gavin to ref hurling decider". RTÉ Sport. 16 August 2011. Archived from the original on 17 February 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Gavin to referee All-Ireland SHC final". Irish Examiner. 16 August 2011. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
- ^ "Who will take hurling's big prize?". Hogan Stand. 4 September 2012. Retrieved 5 September 2012.
- ^ "Barry Kelly confirmed as referee for All-Ireland hurling final". RTÉ Sport. 20 August 2012. Retrieved 20 August 2012.
- ^ "Gavin gets nod to referee All-Ireland final". Irish Examiner. 27 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "James McGrath in charge of All Ireland hurling replay". Irish Independent. 18 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
- ^ "Barry Kelly to referee All Ireland final". Irish Independent. 25 August 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Offaly's Brian Gavin to ref All-Ireland hurling replay between Kilkenny and Tipperary". Irish Independent. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
- ^ "Gavin set to take charge of All-Ireland replay". Irish Examiner. 11 September 2014. Retrieved 11 September 2014.
- ^ Moran, Seán (24 August 2015). "Wexford's James Owens to referee All-Ireland hurling final". Irish Times. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
- ^ "A familiar face will referee the All-Ireland hurling final between Kilkenny and Tipperary". The 42. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
- ^ "Offalyman Brian Gavin to ref All-Ireland SHC final". RTE Sport. 23 August 2016. Retrieved 23 August 2016.
- ^ "Tipperary's Fergal Horgan to referee All-Ireland senior hurling final". Irish Independent. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ "Tipperary native Fergal Horgan appointed as All-Ireland hurling final referee". The 42. 17 August 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2017.
- ^ "Wexford's Owens to take charge of Limerick-Galway All-Ireland hurling final". The 42. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- ^ "James Owens to referee hurling final for second year running". Irish Times. 10 August 2019. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Confirmed: Cork's Colm Lyons appointed for All-Ireland hurling final". Irish Examiner. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "Colm Lyons to referee All-Ireland SHC Final". GAA.ie. 6 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
- ^ "John Keenan appointed as referee for All-Ireland hurling final". Irish Independent. 13 July 2023. Retrieved 18 July 2023.
- ^ "Limerick's Johnny Murphy confirmed as referee for All-Ireland SHC final". RTÉ Sport. 11 July 2024. Retrieved 17 July 2024.