Three Meath referees in top tier
Three Meath referees have been included by the GAA in its panels for the 2018 All-Ireland SFC.
The Championship panels for the 2018 competitions in Hurling and Gaelic Football were confirmed today with David Coldrick, David Gough and Cormac Reilly included again. Coldrick has already officiated at three All-Ireland SFC finals.
Two new referees have been included on the panel - Monaghan's Martin McNally (football) and Limerick’s Johnny Murphy (hurling).
Sligo official Marty Duffy (football) and Offaly’s Brian Gavin (hurling) retired from the panel at the end of 2017.
Rory Hickey (Clare) was not considered for the football panel due to injury while in hurling Barry Kelly (Westmeath) has stepped down from refereeing this year, but both men will continue as linesmen in 2018.
“Obviously it is a very exciting time for the referees involved, but they would have been waiting with a lot of trepidation for the past fortnight to see who is on and who is not on the panel. It is an exciting time for the referees. Everyone is there on merit,” commented National Referees Development Chairman Willie Barrett.
"We would be happy overall with the Leagues. Referees aren't going to get every decision 100 per cent right, but we would be very happy in the review of the League with the overall performance of our referees in both Gaelic Football and Hurling. We had some excellent games in the League, we had two excellent Division One Finals and we believe they were all refereed exceptionally well," he added.
Football - Championship Panel of 18
Cormac Reilly (An Mhí)
David Coldrick (An Mhí)
David Gough (An Mhí)
Ciaran Branagan (An Dún)
Barry Cassidy (Doire)
Niall Cullen (Fear Manach)
Maurice Deegan (Laois)
Jerome Henry (Maigh Eo)
Padraig Hughes (Ard Mhacha)
Sean Hurson (Tír Eoghan)
Fergal Kelly (An Longfort)
Conor Lane (Corcaigh)
Martin McNally (Muineachán)
Joe McQuillan (An Cabhán)
Noel Mooney (An Cabhán)
Paddy Neilan (Ros Comáin)
Anthony Nolan (Cill Mhantáin)
Derek O'Mahony (Tiobraid Árann)
Football - Championship Linesman panel
James Bermingham (Corcaigh)
Brendan Cawley (Cill Dara)
Liam Devenney (Maigh Eo)
Paul Faloon (An Dún)
Sean Lonergan (Tiobraid Árann)
James Molloy (Gaillimh)
Padraig O’Sullivan (Ciarraí)
Barry Tiernan (Áth Cliath)
Liam MacCarthy Championship panel
Sean Cleere (Cill Chainnigh)
Fergal Horgan (Tiobraid Árann)
John Keenan (Cill Mhantáin)
Alan Kelly (Gaillimh)
Diarmuid Kirwan (Corcaigh)
Colm Lyons (Corcaigh)
James McGrath (An Iarmhí)
Johnny Murphy (Luimneach)
Paud O'Dwyer (Ceatharlach)
James Owens (Loch Garman)
Joe McDonagh Cup and Christy Ring Cup panel
Peter Burke (Cill Chainnigh)
James Connors (Dún nan Gall)
Colum Cunning (Aontroim)
Alfie Devine (An Iarmhí)
Liam Gordon (Gaillimh)
Justin Heffernan (Loch Garman)
David Hughes (Ceatharlach)
Shane Hynes (Gaillimh)
John Keane (Gaillimh)
Cathal McAllister (Corcaigh)
Rory McGann (An Clár)
Patrick Murphy (Ceatharlach)
John O'Brien (Laois)
Johnny Ryan (Tiobraid Árann)
Sean Stack (Áth Cliath)
Thomas Walsh (Port Láirge)
Nicky Rackard Cup and Lory Meagher Cup panel
Kevin Brady (An Lú)
James Clarke (An Cabhán)
Aiden Ferguson (Fear Manach)
Thomas Gleeson (Áth Cliath)
Kevin McGeeney (Ros Comáin)
Gearóid McGrath (Loch Garman)
Chris Mooney (Áth Cliath)
Gavin Quilty (Cill Chainnigh)
Nathan Wall (Corcaigh)