Roche to referee hurling final

Brendan Larkin

“It has come as a complete surprise but I’m really chuffed to be part of the biggest day in the hurling calendar,” said the Kilsheelan, Co Tipperary, man.

“I’ve been refereeing 14 years now and an All-Ireland club final was the highlight.

“I’m particularly delighted for my umpires who have been with me from the very start. It’s a great honour for them also and makes all the wettings we got over the years worthwhile.

“After refereeing the semi-final between Galway and Kilkenny, I felt that was it for the year.

“You’re always hoping you’ll get the big one but when the call comes it is a surprise. I’m absolutely thrilled.”

Roche’s appointment is a surprise in that he hails from the same province as one of the participating teams. Many felt the referee would come from Leinster. However, Dickie Murphy of Wexford had only returned to inter-county refereeing this year which probably ruled him out. That left Westmeath’s Brian Kelly, who was most people’s favourite for the job.

Seamus Roche played senior and junior football with Tipperary before taking up the whistle in 1991 and his rise to the top has been meteoric.

The minor final between Galway and Limerick will be refereed by Dublin’s Eamonn Morris. A member of the St Finians club in Swords with whom he played both football and hurling, he has been refereeing since 1994 and has previously officiated at All Ireland minor hurling semi-finals in 1999 (Tipperary v Wexford), 2001 (Cork v Kilkenny) and 2003 (Galway v Tipperary). This year, he took charge of the meeting of Limerick and Laois in the Guinness SHC qualifiers.