Kirwan ok for final despite hurley slap
Offaly-born, but living in Cork since the late 1980s and attached to the Éire Óg club, he was hit accidentally on the ankle minutes from the end of the game at the Gaelic Grounds when he awarded a throw-in and got a slap from a hurley. “The very second it happened I thought about the club final; would I miss it or would I be all right?’’ he said.
“The Limerick doctor, Dave Boylan, looked after me and gave me pain-killers. It was quite sore at the time and swollen, but I was relieved when I woke up on Monday morning and it wasn’t any worse.
“The ankle was only bruised, I’m fine now.’’
At the time he awarded the throw-in, he was standing by the sideline. “I asked the players to move back two paces. I stepped back but they followed me,’’ he explained.
“It would have been terrible not to be able to referee the final. It’s the biggest club game you can get. I’m really looking forward to it.’’
His father, Gerry (who always wore a cap), was a well-known referee in the ‘80s. Nearing the end of his career he was appointed to take charge of the 1988 All-Ireland hurling final between Tipperary and Galway and, he also refereed the All-Ireland club final the same year. That game was between Midleton and Athenry and Midleton were the last club side from Cork to win the trophy until Newtownshandrum made the breakthrough four years ago.
By coincidence, the Limerick doctor Dave Boylan was a member of the successful Midleton squad of 1988, which included his brothers.
A couple of years earlier they had controversially transferred from their home club Dungourney.
Shamrocks will be seeking their fourth title, while Loughrea are the only one of the four teams playing on St Patrick’s Day not to have previously contested a final.
The football game will be between Crossmaglen Rangers (also three time winners) and Dr Crokes, who recorded one win, back in 1992.
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