John Keenan: Are best GAA refs retiring too early?

'I don’t think it’s becoming too daunting to referee. It’s a game at the end of the day and you call it like you see it'

EARLY FINISH:  Referee John Keenan throws in the ball during the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship final match between Kilkenny and Limerick at Croke Park in Dublin. Photo by Daire Brennan/Sportsfile

John Keenan could have thrown his hat at it. Thrown his toys out of the pram too and blown a raspberry at GAA officialdom. As others have done before and likely will again.

Coming off the Thurles sod on June 5, 2022, he was relieved as he was elated that his first Munster final had gone well. Because for all intents and purposes it had gone well. A game for the ages had been served up and in it he had played a supporting role.