Columns - Irish Examiner

Sign in

Brian Gavin

Referee Sean Stack shows Mikey Carey a red card 9/3/2025

S Brian Gavin: This will be a difficult championship for our best hurling referees

The stakes are now so high, a TV review official is probably never more needed.

Thu, 17 Apr, 2025

Armagh v Galway - GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Final

S Brian Gavin: Ref Hurson certainly can't be blamed for a bad football final

Hurling officiating is currently a whirlwind, while football is a breeze.

Mon, 29 Jul, 2024

Clare v Cork - GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final

S Brian Gavin: For All-Ireland ref, sad reality is critics will focus on 10% that went wrong

I have no doubt that if Murphy had seen the foul on Robbie O’Flynn, he would have blown for it but there was silence, O’Flynn’s strike went wide and the Limerick man soon followed it with the final whistle.

Mon, 22 Jul, 2024

Cork v Clare - GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final

S Brian Gavin: Ref must contribute to spectacle on Sunday — no-one wants a free-taking shoot-out

My timekeeping in the 2013 All-Ireland against Clare has been a talking point in Cork down through the years but I was completely happy with how I handled it.

Thu, 18 Jul, 2024

Armagh v Kerry - GAA Football All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final

S Brian Gavin: David Gough contributed to Armagh vs Kerry coming to life

It looks right now to be between Brendan Cawley and Seán Hurson to referee the All-Ireland final.

Sun, 14 Jul, 2024

Limerick v Cork - GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Semi-Final

S Brian Gavin: Walsh could have blown 20 more frees, but he let a classic flow

Thomas Walsh added to the All-Ireland semi-final as a contest and a spectacle

Mon, 08 Jul, 2024

Kilkenny v Tipperary - Electric Ireland GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Championship Final

Brian Gavin: Extremely harsh red for Tipp minor Minogue

Had Tipperary not rallied, the verdict on Thomas Gleeson and his linesman would have been pretty damning.

Mon, 01 Jul, 2024

Keith Rossiter confronts Referee Johnny Murphy at halftime 22/6/2024

S Brian Gavin: Yellow peril as Wexford and Rory O’Connor can have few complaints on dismissal

The first booking may have been slightly harsh but the referee was forced to make a call.

Mon, 24 Jun, 2024

Stephen Cluxton appeals a decison 16/6/2024

S Brian Gavin: Mayo beneficiaries of late calls, Stack made bizarre decisions in Offaly vs Cork

Fines to punish teams for spending too long in the dressing room at half-time don't seem to be working.

Sun, 16 Jun, 2024

Clare v Limerick - Munster GAA Hurling Senior Championship Final

S Brian Gavin: Colm Lyons was the safe pair of hands needed in Munster hurling final

It was his fourth time in three championships, his second in this one, and his knowledge of what he was facing came in so handy.

Sun, 09 Jun, 2024