Cats silent on McGrath’s replay appointment

Kilkenny last night refused to comment on the appointment of Westmeath’s James McGrath for Sunday week’s All-Ireland SHC final against Galway.

County secretary Ned Quinn declined to react to the news that McGrath, the stand-by match official and linesman in the first game, will take charge of the September 30 rematch.

However, privately there is a level of disquiet in Kilkenny that McGrath, who refereed the Leinster final between the counties in July, will be the man in the middle.

In last Sunday week’s game, the Turin man infuriated the Kilkenny bench when he brought Barry Kelly’s attention to an off-the-ball incident, which led to a yellow card for their defender Kieran Joyce.

Eyebrows have also been raised about McGrath having previously worked alongside Galway midfielder Andy Smith’s brother Leo in Athlone Community College.

Galway manager Anthony Cunningham also works in the Westmeath town.

McGrath is now vice-principal at Castlepollard Community College and Sunday week will mark his first All-Ireland final duty, having previously officiated in this year’s league final between Kilkenny and Cork, the 2009 minor final and the following year’s U21 decider.

He will be assisted by stand-by referee John Sexton (Cork) and Kelly as linesmen with Wexford’s James Owens acting as sideline official.

McGrath’s umpires on the day will be Tom McNicholas, David Hennessy, Johnny Fitzpatrick (all Lough Lene Gaels) and David Clune (Devlin).

Galway’s Alan Kelly will referee the All-Ireland minor HC final replay between Dublin and Tipperary and will have Cathal McAllister (Cork, stand-by) and Garrett Duffy (Antrim) with Kilkenny’s Sean Cleere the sideline official.

Rahoon/Newcastle clubman Kelly took charge of this year’s All-Ireland senior club HC final between Loughgiel Shamrocks and Coolderry.

His umpires are Mike Mackey (Rahoon/Newcastle), Morgan Darcy (Moycullen), Padraic Connolly (Cappataggle) and Oliver King (Mountbellew/Moylough).

Meanwhile, Galway hurlers have received a double boost ahead of the All-Ireland final replay on Sunday week with midfielder Iarla Tannian and full-back Kevin Hynes returning to training after picking up injuries in the drawn match.

Tannian, Man of the Match in the drawn game, will be fit to face Kilkenny on Sunday week after recovering from an ankle injury picked up in that game.

And full-back Hynes, who shipped a heavy knock in the opening half of the drawn final, has also made a full recovery.