Brian Gavin: James Owens in pole position for hurling final and that points to worrying trend

The number of times HawkEye was used during Cork's victory over Offaly was borderline ridiculous. Seán Stack may need to have a word with his umpires

Most people would prefer James Owens to referee like he did in the Munster SHC round robin game between Cork and Limerick. That was one of his best ever performances. Pic: ©INPHO/Tom O'Hanlon

After the Munster final, the majority of the hurling fraternity questioned the lack of flow to the game. I was one of them and had James Owens not blown for six or seven soft frees it might have been considered a decent outing and put him in a good place for the All-Ireland final.

He was quickly back in the saddle in Thurles on Saturday and to be honest it was a surprise that he was appointed for the Clare-Dublin game. It told me two things – number one, how he took charge of the game in Cork at the start of the month is how Croke Park want the game to be officiated, which is slightly worrying, and two, that he will be the man of the middle on July 19 in what is his last year.