Referees named for hurling finals

The Central Referees Appointments Committee of the GAA has announced the referees for the All Ireland Hurling finals at Croke Park on 6 September.

The senior decider between Kilkenny and Tipperary will be refereed by Diarmuid Kirwan of Cork. He was in charge of the All- Ireland minor finals of 2002 and 2003 and joined the ranks of Liam MacCarthy Cup referees in 2007 at the Kilkenny v Limerick decider.

Kirwan is a native of Offaly and played hurling and football with Ballyhskenagh from schoolboys up to intermediate. He has been living in Ovens in Cork for a number of years and played hurling with the local Éire Óg club.

The ESB Minor final between Kilkenny and Galway will be refereed by James McGrath, Westmeath who refereed the AIB All Ireland Senior Club final on St Patrick’s Day this year.