McEnaney confirms top referee panel scaled down

A number of top inter-county referees have been told they are surplus to requirements in 2013, the Irish Examiner has learned.

Pat McEnaney, chairman of the National Referees committee, has confirmed that a scaled down panel of whistlers has been put together for next season. But the Monaghan native, who took charge of four All-Ireland senior football finals during his illustrious career, would not divulge their names out of respect.

And McEnaney has indicated that further cuts in the football and hurling panels could follow in the years to come, so that the country’s leading referees get more games.