Dubliner to umpire olympic hockey final

Dubliner Ray O'Connor, in his third Olympic Games as an umpire, has been chosen to officiate at tomorrow evening's men's hockey final between the Netherlands and Australia at Athens' Helliniko complex.

The 47-year-old, who also umpired the Atlanta final, will be partnered by South African John Wright.

As Ireland's only hockey representative at the Games, apart from the Irish Association's President-elect Grace Redmond who acted as a women's judge, O'Connor is relishing the prospect.

"These are my last Olympics so it's a great honour", said the Billings manager. "The final will demand a lot from the umpires, with regards to heat and the concentration factor. Athens has been a great experience so far, so we'll hope for another good game tomorrow."

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) backed O'Connor after India lodged a protest against his umpiring in Saturday's 2-1 Pool B loss for the former champions to New Zealand.

The result put the Indians out of the competition, and their protest hinged on their assertion that the fourth penalty corner taken in succession, after the final hooter, was invalid.

FIH technical delegat Wiert Doyer failed to agree and Hayden Shaw's late goal, from the fourth corner, saw the Indians out of the semi-final race. The Indians argued that the match was over once the third penalty corner had been taken and O'Connor had signalled the game's end.