Cumann Cam¾gaÝochta na nGael announces referees for All Ireland finals

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Cumann Cam¾gaÝochta na nGael has announced the details of their referee appointments for the forthcoming Gala All Ireland senior and junior camogie finals which will take place in Croke Park on Sunday, September 13.

Both referees this year are from the Orchard County.

The senior final between Cork (holders) and Kilkenny will be under the control of Una Kearney who is a member of the St Brenda’s Ballymacnab club in Armagh. Una, a teacher by profession, previously took charge of the All Ireland senior final in 2004, and she also handled the junior finals of 2005 and 2008. Una is Chairperson of the National Referees Committee and has been officiating since 1999.

Una’s umpires are Paula McGuigan, Conor Dodd, Bebe Devlin and Ann O’Hare. The line umpires are John Morrissey (standby referee) and Ciarßn Quigley, while Joe Kennedy and Eadhmonn MacSuibhne are the fourth and fifth officials.

Pat Walsh is the man in the middle for the junior final between Offaly (last season’s beaten finalists) and Waterford who are appearing in their first decider. Pat, who is a supervisor with Quinn Brothers Construction Company, is a native of Cappawhite in County Tipperary but now lives in Portadown. He played senior hurling with Killeady in Armagh. He also spent some time in London where he hurled with Glen Rovers. Pat refereed the 2008 Nancy Murray Cup final and numerous county championship finals.

Pat’s umpires are Michael McNabb, Vincie McErlean, Malachy McToal and Derek McNabb. The line umpires are Alan Lagrue (standby referee) and John O’Leary, while Julie O’Neill and Owen Elliott are the fourth and fifth officials.

Following the announcement Camogie Association President Joan O’Flynn said,

“”Congratulations to Una Kearney and Pat Walsh on the achievement of being selected as referees for this year’s Gala All Ireland senior and junior camogie championships finals in Croke Park.  Refereeing is a vital part of our sport and in any game the referee’s performance is as important as the players. For any referee, the opportunity to be in charge of the whistle on All Ireland Final day is a career highlight. That it should fall to two Armagh referees is a unique coincidence.

“”Camogie All Ireland Final Day showcases the skill, speed and athleticism of our sport. I am looking forward to two very competitiveness finals with Kilkenny hoping to spoil Cork’s party in the senior final and Waterford looking to deny Offaly the silverware in their first ever trip to Croke Park. The club and family base of camogie, as part of the Gaelic Games community, will also be much in evidence. I am delighted that this year the All Ireland programme will again unite the camogie and hurling families. Kilkenny in particular will have an interest in the Gala senior camogie and the Bord Gßis U21 hurling finals.””

The junior camogie final is at 12.45pm, senior camogie final at 2.45pm while the U21 hurling final takes place at 4.30pm.

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