Brian Gavin: Fergal Horgan did well bar advantage rule leeway

Earlier this year the advantage rule was changed and what Fergal was doing contradicted it. If more referees take these matters into their own hands, there is going to be confusion

Graeme Mulcahy of Limerick breaks a hurley during a scuffle between both sides at Croke Park. Picture: Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

Looking back, I was fortunate enough with the four All-Ireland finals I refereed. All of them were close or relatively close encounters and every match official wants to be involved in those types of games.

Not that they want to make an artificial difference so that the match becomes a contest but to be part of a cracker can be every bit as exhilarating for the man in the middle as it is for the players providing it.