All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final referees

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

The Sam Maguire Cup

The most recent final (2022) was refereed by Sean Hurson, with Paddy Neilan on standby; Barry Cassidy as linesman; Sean Laverty on sideline; and two umpires from Ardboe and one each from Clonoe and Moortown. The 2021 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final was refereed by Joe McQuillan, with David Gough on standby; Brendan Cawley as linesman; Ciaran Brannigan on sideline; and two umpires from Kill Shamrocks and one each from Drumalee and Killygarry.[1] The 2019 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final was refereed by David Gough, with Conor Lane on standby; Barry Cassidy as linesman.

Selection

According to The Irish Times, the referee is often "centre stage" during All-Ireland SFC finals.[2]

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".[3]

Brian White was the first to benefit from the rule change when he got to referee the 2000 replay.[4]

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 All-Ireland quarter-finals.[5] In recent years, a referee who has overseen an All-Ireland SFC semi-final is never chosen for the final. However, he has tended to have refereed a quarter-final.[5]

A referee who has officiated at one of the semi-finals is traditionally overlooked when deciding the referee for the same year's final.[6]

When the decision is made, the identity of the referee chosen is revealed following the All-Ireland SFC semi-finals and ahead of the final. A period of media attention may ensue, sometimes even before the announcement has been made.[5]

Traditions

On the day, the referee is introduced to the President of Ireland ahead of the game.[7]

The referee receives a Celtic cross for each final he officiates.[8]

Referees

Pre-1928
Harry Boland, 1914 referee
Year Referee Co. Referee's club Ref(s)
1887John CullinaneTipperary[9]
1889T. O'Driscoll
1890J. J. KennyDublin
1891T. J. WhelanLaois
1892Dan FraherWaterford
1893T. GilliganDublin
1894 (1st/2nd?)R. T. Blake (Dick Blake)Meath[10]
1895J. J. KennyDublin
1896Thomas DooleyCork
1897Spencer LyonsLimerick
1898John McCarthyKilkenny
1899L. StanleyLouth
1900T. H. Redmond
1901John McCarthyKilkenny
1902Thomas F. O'SullivanKerry
1903John McCarthyKilkenny
1904John FitzgeraldCork
1905M. F. CroweDublin
1906John FitzgeraldKildare
1907John FitzgeraldKildare
1908M ConroyDublin
1909M. F. CroweDublin
1910w/o /scr.
1911M. O'BrennanRoscommon
1912Tom Irwin
1913M. F. CroweDublin
1914 (1st/2nd)Harry BolandDublin[11]
1915Pat DunphyLaois[11]
1916Pat DunphyLaois[11]
1917Pat DunphyLaois[11]
1918Pat DunphyLaois[11]
1919Pat DunphyLaois[11]
1920Willie WalshWaterford
1921Willie WalshWaterford
1922Pat DunphyLaois[11]
1923James ByrneWexford
1924T. ShevlinRoscommon
1925?
1926 (1st/2nd?)?
1927T. ShevlinRoscommon

1928 to 1969: Introduction of the Sam Maguire Cup

Year Referee Co. Referee's club Ref(s)
1928Tom BurkeLouth
1929Tom BurkeLouth
1930Jim Byrne
1931T. KeatingTipp
1932Martin O'NeillWexford
1933Martin O'NeillWexford
1934Sean McCarthyKerry
1935Stephen JordanGalway
1936Sean McCarthyKerry
1937 (1st/2nd?)M. HennessyDublin
1938 (1st/2nd?)P. Maguire
1939J. FlahertyOffaly
1940Seamus BurkeKildare
1941?
1942?
1943 (1st/2nd?)P O Miotain(Wexford)
1944?
1945John Dunne[12]
1946 (1st/2nd?)?
1947M O'Neill(Wexford)
1948M. J. FlahertyOffaly
1949D. Ryan(Kerry
1950Simon Deignan
1951Bill Delaney(Laois)
1952 (1st/2nd?)?
1953Peter McDermottMeath[10]
1954Bill Delaney(Laois)
1955?
1956Peter McDermottMeath[10]
1957P. GeraghtyGalway
1958Simon Deignan
1959John DowlingOffaly
1960John DowlingOffaly[13]
1961L. MaguireCavan
1962Eamonn MoulesWicklow[14]
1963Eamonn MoulesWicklow[14]
1964Jimmy HattonWicklow
1965Mick LoftusMayo
1966Jimmy HattonWicklow
1967John MoloneyTipp
1968Mick LoftusMayo
1969John MoloneyTipp

1970 to 2000

Year Referee Co. Referee's club Ref(s)
1970P. KellyDublin
1971P. KellyDublin
1972 (1st)Fintan TierneyCavan; originally from LongfordButlersbridge[6][15]
1972 (2nd)Paddy DevlinTyrone[16]
1973John MoloneyTipp
1974Paddy DevlinTyrone[16]
1975John MoloneyTipp
1976Paddy CollinsWestmeath
1977John MoloneyTipp
1978Seamus AldridgeKildare
1979Hugh DugganArmagh[17]
1980Seamus MurrayMonaghan[18]
1981Paddy CollinsWestmeath
1982P. J. McGrathMayoKilmaine[19]
1983John GoughAntrim[20]
1984Paddy CollinsWestmeath
1985Paddy KavanaghMeath[10]
1986Jimmy DenniganCork[21][22]
1987Pat LaneLimerickSt Senan's[23]
1988 (1st/2nd)Tommy SugrueKerry[4]
1989Paddy CollinsWestmeath
1990Paddy RussellTipp[24]
1991Séamus PriorLeitrimAughnasheelin[25]
1992Tommy SugrueKerry[26]
1993Tommy HowardKildare
1994Tommy SugrueKerry[27]
Year Referee Co. Referee's club Standby referee Other linesman Sideline official Ref(s)
1995Paddy RussellTipp[28]
1996 (1st/2nd)Pat McEnaneyMonaghanCorduffPaddy Russell[29][4]
1997Brian WhiteWexfordCushinstown[30]
1998John BannonLongfordLegan Sarsfields[31]
1999Mick CurleyGalway[32]
2000 (1st)Pat McEnaneyMonaghanCorduff
2000 (2nd)Brian WhiteWexfordCushinstown[4][30]

2001 to present
Marty Duffy, 2009 referee
Year Referee Co. Referee's club Standby referee Other linesman Sideline official Ref(s)
2001Michael CollinsCorkClonakilty[33]
2002John BannonLongfordLegan Sarsfields[34]
2003Brian WhiteWexfordCushinstown[30]
2004Pat McEnaneyMonaghanCorduff[35]
2005Michael MonahanKildareRaheens[36]
2006Brian CroweCavanCavan Gaels[6][37]
2007David ColdrickMeathBlackhall Gaels[10]
2008Maurice DeeganLaoisStradbally
2009Marty DuffySligoKilgass[38]
2010David ColdrickMeathBlackhall GaelsGearoid O ConamhaMaurice DeeganSyl Doyle[39][40]
2011Joe McQuillanCavanKill ShamrocksDavid ColdrickPat McEnaneyMaurice Condon[41][6]
2012Maurice DeeganLaoisStradbally[42]
2013Joe McQuillanCavanKill ShamrocksCormac ReillyPadraig O'SullivanMichael Duffy[43]
2014Eddie KinsellaLaoisCourtwoodMarty DuffyPádraig HughesRory Hickey[44][45][46]
2015David ColdrickMeathBlackhall GaelsJoe McQuillanConor LaneDerek Fahy[47]
2016 (1st)Conor LaneCorkBanteerMaurice Deegan[48]
2016 (2nd)Maurice DeeganLaoisStradballyDavid Coldrick/Sean HursonDavid Coldrick/Sean Hurson[49]
2017Joe McQuillanCavanKill ShamrocksConor LanePadraig O'SullivanNiall Cullen[50]
2018Conor LaneCorkBanteer[51]
2019 (1st)David GoughMeathSlaneConor LaneBarry CassidySean Hurson[52]
2019 (2nd)Conor LaneCorkBanteer[53]
2020David ColdrickMeathBlackhall Gaels[54]
2021Joe McQuillanCavanKill ShamrocksDavid GoughBrendan CawleyCiaran Brannigan[55]
2022Sean HursonTyroneGalbally ParsesPaddy NeilanBarry CassidySean Laverty[56]

Referees with more than one final

 Bold  = referee still active at inter-county level

Referee Number of finals Years
Pat Dunphy 6 1915, 1916, 1917, 1918, 1919, 1922[11]
John Moloney 5 1967, 1969, 1973, 1975, 1977
Paddy Collins 4 1976, 1981, 1984, 1989
Tommy Sugrue 4 1988 (draw), 1988 (replay) 1992, 1994
Pat McEnaney 4[57] 1996 (draw) 1996 (replay), 2000 (draw), 2004
 David Coldrick  4 2007, 2010, 2015, 2020
 Joe McQuillan  4 2011, 2013, 2017, 2021
John McCarthy 3 1898, 1901, 1903
M. F. Crowe 3 1905, 1909, 1913
Brian White 3 1997, 2000 (replay), 2003[30]
Maurice Deegan 3 2008, 2012, 2016 (replay)
 Conor Lane  3 2016 (draw), 2018, 2019 (replay)
J. J. Kenny 2 1890, 1895
R. T. Blake 2 1894 (1st), 1894 (replay)
John Fitzgerald 2 1906, 1907, a man by the same name done the 1904 final but it says Cork and not Kildare?
Harry Boland 2? 1914 (draw), 1914 (replay)
Willie Walsh 2 1920, 1921
T. Shevlin 2 1924, 1927
Tom Burke 2 1928, 1929
Martin O'Neill 2 1932, 1933
Sean McCarthy 2 1934, 1936
M. Hennessy 2? 1937 (draw), 1937 (replay)
P. Maguire 2? 1938 (draw), 1938 (replay)
? 1943 (draw), 1943 (replay)
? 1946 (draw), 1946 (replay)
? 1952 (draw), 1952 (replay)
Simon Deignan 2 1950, 1958
John Dowling 2 1959, 1960
Eamonn Moules 2 1962,[14] 1963[14]
Mick Loftus 2 1965, 1968
P. Kelly 2 1970, 1971
Paddy Russell 2 1990, 1995
John Bannon 2 1998, 2002

See also

References
  1. "Joe McQuillan confirmed as referee for All-Ireland SFC final". The42.ie. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  2. Fitzpatrick, Richard (18 September 2015). "Referees can end up being centre stage in All-Ireland finals: Decisions can make key difference putting huge pressure on officials". The Irish Times.
  3. 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.
  4. Moran, Seán (27 September 2014). "Switching referees helps shelve issues in All-Ireland final replays". The Irish Times.
  5. 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.'
  6. Fitzpatrick, Paul (31 August 2011). "No show like a Joe show as McQuillan gets All Ireland". The Anglo-Celt. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015.
  7. "Cavan's all-ireland final referee". Hogan Stand. 31 March 2007.
  8. Lennon, Siun (5 September 2018). "Maurice Deegan speaks about being the man in the middle and hopes of refereeing a possible fourth All-Ireland". In last Thursday's podcast he spoke about his hopes of earning a fourth Celtic Cross for being the man with the whistle in another All-Ireland final.
  9. Quinn, Martin (31 March 2022). "'A man of the people remembered,' over 100 years since the passing of John Cullinan".
  10. "Meath's All-Ireland winner". Hogan Stand. 30 November 2007. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022.
  11. O'Connell, Cian (9 December 2016). "1916 All Ireland referees remembered". One hundred years ago Dunphy and Walsh took charge of the All Ireland Finals, while Boland, who reffed the 1914 Football decider and replay, was also remembered.
  12. Duggan, Keith (18 July 2009). "One man's decades of dedication to the cause". The Irish Times. Tull (he never knew the origin of the nickname other than it had been passed through the family from his grandfather's time) did it all — he won two All-Irelands with Galway as a player in 1934 and (as captain) 1938; he was trainer — and more — to the championship-winning team of 1956 and to the deathless side that won All-Irelands in 1964, '65 and '66; he was still on the sideline when Galway lost three All-Irelands in succession in the 1970s; he was a referee (he whistled Jack Lynch's football All-Ireland in 1945); and he was an administrator with an impeccably conscientious and fussy streak, taking as much care about recording the minutes of obscure county meetings as he did with the famous pinstripe band on the socks the invincible mid-60s maroon team wore.
  13. "The sad loss of a GAA legend". Irish Independent. 11 February 2002.
  14. Furlong, Brendan (17 November 2021). "Eamonn 'Fitch' Moules, referee of first televised All-Ireland football final, dies aged 97: Wicklowman also took charge of 1963 decider and a National League final in New York". The Irish Times.
  15. "Death of former All-Ireland referee Fintan Tierney". Hogan Stand. 11 January 2008.
  16. "An Galbhaile Cumann na Piarsaigh Clubman Sean Hurson to Referee 2022 All Ireland Football Final". tyronegaa.ie. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  17. Harrington, John (29 August 2019). "1979 Final referee Hugh Duggan still going strong".
  18. "O Hehir criticised for Spillane comments". The Kerryman. 11 November 2010. Spillane went down injured before half-time and Seamus Murray, the Monaghan referee, was seen making several attempts to get Spillane off the turf.
  19. "Death of 1982 All-Ireland football final referee". Hogan Stand. 22 March 2021.
  20. O'Sullivan, Jim (16 November 2006). "Former official Gough says current ref standards are best ever". Irish Examiner.
  21. "Dennigan, Jimmy". HoganStand.com. 3 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  22. "Sad farewell to GAA legend Jimmy". The Corkman. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 15 January 2013.
  23. Kinsella, Colm (10 January 2020). "Sadness at passing of Limerick All-Ireland final referee". Limerick Leader.
  24. Russell, Adrian (16 September 2020). "The Double 30 years on: 'When Paddy Russell blew the whistle, the roar was ferocious'". Irish Examiner.
  25. "1991 All Ireland SFC Final Down v Meath — Referee Seamus Prior". 29 May 2020.
  26. "'I always treated every game and every player equally'". Independent.ie. 16 September 2017. Tommy Sugrue pictured at his home in Tralee with the referee jersey he wore on All-Ireland Final day in 1988.
  27. "'I always treated every game and every player equally'". Independent.ie. 16 September 2017. Tommy Sugrue pictured at his home in Tralee with the referee jersey he wore on All-Ireland Final day in 1988.
  28. Sweeney, Peter (6 January 2019). "Leitrim player sent off, plays on and gives vital pass". RTÉ.
  29. "1996 Sunday Game Mayo v Meath brawl analysis". The Sunday Game. 1996. Pat Spillane: "Paddy Russell had watched two incidents... and the poor man had a bad year last year from us".
  30. Cummiskey, Gavin (11 September 2003). "White to referee final". The Irish Times. It will be White's third final as he was also the man in the middle for the 1997 final between Kerry and Mayo and the 2000 replay between Galway and Kerry.
  31. "JOHN BANNON Longford football referee". Sunday Independent. 20 August 2006.
  32. Keys, Colm (4 February 2005). "Curley to join referee exodus". Irish Independent.
  33. "GAA: Collins to referee football final". Irish Examiner. 11 September 2001.
  34. "JOHN BANNON Longford football referee". Sunday Independent. 20 August 2006.
  35. Keys, Colm (8 August 2009). "Thirteen years after infamous Mayo-Meath melee the shockwaves have not yet settled". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media. Retrieved 8 August 2009. ... McHale was a selector when they lost the 2004 All-Ireland heavily to the Kingdom. McEnaney reffed…
  36. Foley, Cliona (24 January 2007). "All-Ireland referee Monahan opts out of". Irish Independent.
  37. Moran, Seán (2 September 2006). "Cavan's Brian Crowe will referee the All-Ireland football final between Kerry and Mayo in a fortnight's time". The Irish Times.
  38. "Sligoman Duffy to ref football final". RTÉ. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  39. Breheny, Martin (2 September 2010). "Coldrick to join elite group of referees after landing final". Irish Independent. Retrieved 2 September 2010.
  40. "Coldrick to referee All-Ireland final". RTÉ. 1 September 2010. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 1 September 2010.
  41. "McQuillan to referee football final". RTÉ. 30 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  42. "Maurice Deegan to referee Mayo v Donegal All-Ireland final". RTÉ. 4 September 2012. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  43. "Joe McQuillan to referee All-Ireland final between Dublin and Mayo". RTÉ. 10 September 2013. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  44. "Laois whistler Eddie Kinsella to ref Kerry-Donegal final". RTÉ. 8 September 2012. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  45. "GAA: Eddie Kinsella to referee the All-Ireland SFC final between Kerry and Donegal". Sky Sports. 8 September 2012. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  46. "Eddie Kinsella to referee Kerry and Donegal in the All-Ireland senior football final". TheScore.ie. 8 September 2012. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2012.
  47. "Coldrick to referee All-Ireland football final". Hogan Stand. 8 September 2015. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
  48. Donoghue, Eamon (31 August 2016). "Cork referee assigned All-Ireland football final". The Irish Times.
  49. "Maurice Deegan to ref Dublin v Mayo replay". RTÉ. 20 September 2016.
  50. "Joe McQuillan to referee All-Ireland SFC final". Hogan Stand. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  51. Donoghue, Eamon (20 August 2018). "Conor Lane confirmed as football final referee". The Irish Times.
  52. McGoldrick, Sean (14 August 2019). "Meath's David Gough confirmed as All-Ireland final referee with family members in as umpires". Irish Independent. Retrieved 4 September 2019.
  53. "Cork's Conor Lane to referee All-Ireland final replay as ticket prices reduced". TheJournal.ie. September 2, 2019.
  54. "Coldrick chosen to referee All-Ireland SFC final". Hogan Stand. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  55. Breheny, Martin (8 September 2021). "Pressure is on referee Joe McQuillan to steer Mayo-Tyrone All-Ireland final through various battles of will". Irish Independent. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  56. "Tyrone's Seán Hurson to referee All-Ireland football final: First senior final for the Galbally Pearses man as he takes charge of Galway vs Kerry at Croke Park". The Irish Times. 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
  57. Keys, Colm. "David Gough's Dublin links no barrier to being final ref — says Pat McEnaney". Irish Independent. Independent News & Media.
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