Three axed from referees’ list

Three high-profile hurling referees have been dropped from this year’s championship panel.

Michael Wadding of Waterford, who refereed the 2010 decider between Tipperary and Kilkenny, Cork’s Cathal McAllister and Laois’s Anthony Stapleton were told the news following a meeting with national referees’ chairman Pat McEnaney on Tuesday night.

The Monaghan native called for a significant improvement from hurling match officials this year, but it is believed the decision has been made due to his belief that a smaller pool of championship referees will improve both their fitness and decisions.