Confirmed: Cork's Colm Lyons appointed for All-Ireland hurling final

Cork’s Colm Lyons has been appointed to take charge of Sunday week’s All-Ireland senior hurling final between Kilkenny and Limerick

MAN IN THE MIDDLE: Referee Colm Lyons during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Quarter-Final match between Clare and Wexford at the FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles, Tipperary. Pic: Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Colm Lyons will become the first Cork referee to take charge of an All-Ireland senior hurling final in 13 years when he throws in the ball for the Kilkenny-Limerick clash on Sunday week.

The Nemo Rangers man follows Offaly-born Diarmuid Kirwan (Éire Óg), who was the man in the middle for the 2007 and ‘09 All-Ireland finals. Prior to that, Willie Horgan was the referee for the 1991 game between Tipperary and Kilkenny.