Kelly to referee hurling final

Westmeath man Barry Kelly has been chosen to referee next month's Guinness All-Ireland SHC final between reigning champions Cork and Leinster kingpins Kilkenny.

A member of the St Oliver Plunkett's club in Mullingar, he will be refereeing the final for the first time.

Kelly has plenty of top-level experience, having whistled the 2000 All-Ireland minor final, the 2004 AIB All-Ireland club final and last year's Munster SHC decider between Cork and Tipperary.

He was also the man in the middle for the recent All-Ireland SHC quarter-final between Tipperary and Waterford.

Fresh from officiating at last weekend's Nicky Rackard Cup final, Kilkenny native Dominic Connolly has been selected to referee the ESB All-Ireland MHC final between Galway and Tipperary.

Both the senior and minor hurling championship finals will take place at Croke Park on Sunday, September 3.

Connolly, in his third season as an inter-county referee, is a member of the Mooncoin club. Last year, he refereed the the Leinster minor final and his 2006 engagements have included the All-Ireland JHC semi-final and the Rackard Cup showdown between Derry and Donegal.