My father wanted me to ref final, says Sexton

THERE was a poignant moment before Sunday’s Munster club SHC final in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, as referee John Sexton blew his whistle to end an impeccably observed minute’s silence to respect the memory of another John Sexton, his father, who had been buried the previous day.

At game’s end, however, as John was coming off the field he was greeted with boos for a few disgruntled Thurles Sars supporters unhappy with a few of his decisions in their defeat to De La Salle, Waterford.

On a weekend in which the Scottish FA were forced to look elsewhere for their match officials due to a strike by their own upset by the flak and disrespect they face, it was a timely if unwelcome reminder that, and even in circumstances such as prevailed on Sunday last, for our own men in the middle, life can be very difficult also.