Three-time All-Ireland hurling final referee Fergal Horgan has announced his retirement from inter-county refereeing with immediate effect due to "lack of appointments" in recent seasons.
The Tipperary official, who oversaw the 2017, 2020 and 2021 All-Ireland deciders, confirmed his retirement in an interview with Tipperary Mid-West Radio this evening, citing his annoyance with the current appointments process.
Horgan claimed that Munster officials were losing out amid what he suggested was a drive to promote referees from Leinster and Connacht.
Officials from Galway and Leinster were in the middle for the recent Allianz Hurling League Division 1 semi-finals and final.
Munster men took charge of the 2022 All-Ireland semis and final, with Horgan in charge for Kilkenny's semi-final win over Clare.
His most recent game at national level was the Division 1 meeting between Waterford and Antrim on 26 February. He also refereed Cork's win over Limerick in round one.
"It's disappointing from my point of view," he said. "I've worked hard over the past few years and haven't got the appointments from Croke Park that I thought I should have got."
Horgan also suggested that some referees had recently been handed games despite failing fitness tests.
"No one has a right to get any match I suppose but in the last few weeks, we've seen referees getting appointments that didn't pass the fitness test. That's not going down well with referees."
The Kickhams clubman insisted that his decision was final and that he felt there was not enough support for GAA referees.
"I did love refereeing. But I couldn't see why anyone would take up refereeing, unfortunately. At the top level you get no support.
"Referees are very uneasy. I'm one of the referees that have stepped away. It's a big decision for me to step away.
"I know for a fact that a lot of the referees in football and hurling are not happy with the way things are going at the moment. I can see why. Personally, I think it's a farce what's going on there.
"I'm 100% finished. I'm at ease now. I got no contact from Croke Park the last few weeks and that just shows me where I stand."
