Maggie’s Croker milestone

Cavan’s Maggie Farrelly will this evening become the first female to officiate at a men’s inter-county game in Croke Park.

Farrelly will assist referee David Coldrick as the sideline official for the Dublin-Kerry Division 1 opener, where she will monitor substitutions and operate the electronic board.

Two years ago, the Laragh referee took charge of her first high-profile men’s senior club championship game in her own county.

Since then, she acted as a linesperson in a McKenna Cup game in Omagh last year before performing the same role in a Division 1 game between Down and Kildare.

Last July, she was on duty as sideline official for the Monaghan-Tyrone Ulster minor final.

On her latest appointment, she told the official GAA website: “A few days ago I got a message to ask was I available for this game and I just couldn’t believe it. It’s a great honour and something you can only dream about, especially because the game is in Croke Park.

“I recognise and understand that my presence on Saturday night, or at any other inter-county game, is something new to the GAA and may be seen as a landmark.

“I think my appointment demonstrates the inclusiveness of the GAA as a whole. They believe in my ability and provide the opportunities and it’s up to me to take them on and fulfil my duties to the best of my ability.

“A lot of people have said to me before that I am breaking new ground for women in sport, but I have found that I have had nothing but support from the County Board in Cavan and at provincial and national level.”