In praise of our loyal referees
Match officials play major role in keeping games alive
THE INTERVIEW with James Owens in last week’s edition, conducted by Dave Devereux, prompted me to take a trip down another researching rabbit hole.
My quest was to come up with the definitive list of referees who have taken charge of Senior club matches in the county from 1975 onwards.
A compilation of this nature hasn’t been published before to the best of my knowledge, and it’s a small way of acknowledging the immense role played by these men in the middle – 99 individuals in total – in keeping our games alive.
We mightn’t always agree with their decisions – that can be taken as a given – but it takes a certain breed of individual to rise above the criticism and carry on regardless.
And for what’s it worth, I believe that in general terms Wexford has been quite lucky with the calibre of G.A.A. refereeing on the domestic scene over the years.
I’ve divided the list between hurling and football and, just to be clear, it includes Senior championship group and knockout games, as well as all relegation ties and Senior ‘B’ encounters.
In the case of referees on the list who were active in the top flight before 1975, I’ve commenced with their first year and taken it from there. 1980 to 1982.
Philip Murphy (Faythe Harriers): 2018 and 2019. Aidan Murray (Gusserane/Geraldine O’Hanrahans): 1989; 1991 to 1993; 1997 and 1998.
Bill Nolan (Ballyhogue): 1980.
Jimmy Nolan (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy): 1982 and 1983.
Paddy ‘Whacker’ Nolan R.I.P. (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown): 1975 to 1981.
Jack O’Brien (Ferns St. Aidan’s/Buffers Alley): 1975 to 1986; 1988; 1990 to 1992; 1994.
Brian O’Leary (Crossabeg-Ballymurn): 2012 to 2019.
David O’Leary (Rathnure): 2011 to 2019. John O’Loughlin (Monageer-Boolavogue): 2018 and 2019.
Matt O’Neill (Adamstown): 1972 to 1974; 1977 to 1984.
Ger O’Reilly (Glynn-Barntown): 2009.
Seánie O’Shea (Blackwater): 2003 to 2014. James Owens (Askamore): 2002 to 2019.
Ian Plunkett (Marshalstown-Castledockrell): 2006 and 2007; 2010.
Thomas Quigley (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy): 2000; 2002 and 2003.
Shane Quinn (Ballygarrett): 2017 and 2018. Barry Redmond (Na Fianna Clonard): 2011 to 2019.
Dermot Roche R.I.P. (Bannow-Ballymitty): 1977 to 1983.
John Rossiter (St. Mary’s, Rosslare): 1993; 2004. Tommy Rowe (Adamstown/Oylegate-Glenbrien): 1980 to 1983; 1986; 1989 to 1993.
Paddy Stamp (Liam Mellows): 2007 to 2010. Tom St. Ledger (Geraldine O’Hanrahans): 1986 to 1994.
Anthony Shiggins
1993; 1999.
Paddy Shiggins (Shamrocks/Rapparees): 1966; 1968 to 1970; 1973 and 1974; 1980 to 1988; 1990.
John Sinnott (St. Martin’s): 1986 to 1988; 1990 to 1994; 1996; 1999 to 2004.
Noel Stafford (Clongeen): 2005.
Anthony Tobin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans): 2016 and 2017.
Joe Walshe R.I.P. (St. Joseph’s): 1977 and 1978. Noel Whelan (Fethard): 1984 to 1988; 1990 to 1996; 1998 to 2004.
Seamus Whelan (Oylegate-Glenbrien): 1994; 1997; 1999 to 2001; 2003 and 2004; 2006 and 2007; 2011.
Seán Whelan (St. Martin’s): 1999; 2001 to 2019. Brian White (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown): 1991; 1993 to 1997; 1999 to 2005.
Fintan Whyte (St. James’): 2009.
Willie Wickham (Ballyhogue): 2000. (Shelmaliers): 1992 and
Jimmy Browne (Naomh Eanna): 1978 to 1981. Pierie Butler (Buffers Alley): 1985 to 1994; 1997 to 1999; 2001 to 2003.
Pat Byrne (Ferns St. Aidan’s): 1992.
John Carton (Monageer-Boolavogue): 2008; 2010 to 2019.
Kevin Carty
2019.
John Denton
2004.
John Diskin and 2015.
Billy Dodd (Sarsfields): 2015 to 2019. Damien Donovan (St. John’s Volunteers): 2006 to 2013; 2016 to 2018.
Joe Doran (Buffers Alley): 1972; 1985.
Lar Doyle (Taghmon-Camross): 1990; 1999; 2001; 2004.
Larry Doyle R.I.P. (Réalt na Mara): 1994 to 1996; 1998; 2001; 2003; 2005.
Syl Doyle (Ballyhogue): 1998 to 2014.
Pat Dunphy (Adamstown): 1999 to 2001. James Flood (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown): 1999 and 2000; 2002; 2010; 2012 to 2015; 2017 and 2018.
Isaac Furlong R.I.P. (Clonard): 1979; 1982 to 1984; 1986 to 1988.
Michael Gannon (Horeswood): 2003.
Mick Harpur (Bannow-Ballymitty): 1980. Justin Heffernan (Blackwater): 2012 and 2013; 2015 and 2016; 2018 and 2019.
Brendan Holohan (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown): 2017 to 2019.
Paddy Hughes
1987 to 1990.
David Jenkins (Gusserane): 2005 to 2019. Seamus Keevans R.I.P. (Kill, Waterford/Bannow-Ballymitty/Gusserane): 1965 to 1973; 1975; 1981 to 1983.
Nicholas Kehoe
2006 to 2011.
Pat Kehoe (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown): 2007 to 2011; 2013; 2015 to 2017.
Joe Kelly (Naomh Eanna): 2000; 2002.
Dan Kennedy (Craanford): 1972; 1975 and 1976; 1978 and 1979; 1982; 1985.
John Kennedy R.I.P. (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy): 1987.
Jas Kirwan (Sarsfields): 1963 to 1965; 1967 and 1968; 1970; 1981.
Mickey Lynch R.I.P. (Enniscorthy): 1978.
Lalo Malone (Geraldine O’Hanrahans): 1994. Brendan Martin (Ballyhogue): 2001 to 2004; 2009; 2011 to 2015.
Noel Matthews R.I.P.
1972; 1974 to 1983.
Niall McDonald (Crossabeg-Ballymurn): 2004 to 2014; 2016; 2019.
Ray McDonald (Adamstown): 2004 to 2007; 2009; 2011.
Eric Molloy (St. James’): 2012 to 2015. Frankie Morrissey (Glynn-Barntown): 2003; 2009; 2011 to 2016.
James Mullally (Gusserane): 2009 and 2010; 2017 to 2019. (Sarsfields): 2011; 2013 to 2017; (Faythe Harriers): 1973; 1975 to (Bannow-Ballymitty): 2012; 2014 (Kilanerin): 1977; 1980; 1982; (Cloughbawn): 2000 to 2004; (Starlights): 1971 and
Dickie Murphy (Starlights): 1988.
Pat Murphy R.I.P. (St. Fintan’s): 1981.
Philip Murphy (Faythe Harriers): 2010; 2019. Aidan Murray (Gusserane/Geraldine O’Hanrahans): 1990 to 1998.
Bill Nolan (Ballyhogue): 1983 to 1987.
Paddy ‘Whacker’ Nolan R.I.P. (St. Mary’s, Maudlintown): 1978.
Jack Neville R.I.P. (Bannow-Ballymitty): 1981 to 1986; 1988; 1992 to 1994.
Denis Noonan (St. Michael’s, Gorey): 1975. Aidan O’Brien (Cloughbawn): 2008.
Jack O’Brien (Buffers Alley): 1978 to 1986; 1988 and 1989; 1991; 2000. Michael O’Connor (Gusserane/Bannow-Ballymitty): 1986.
Matt O’Neill (Adamstown): 1976 to 1978; 1980 to 1984.
Fintan O’Reilly (Kilmore): 2014 to 2019.
Ger O’Reilly (Glynn-Barntown): 2008 to 2010. Seánie O’Shea (Blackwater): 2002 to 2014. Eddie O’Sullivan (Kilanerin): 2009 and 2010; 2015 and 2016.
James Owens (Kilrush): 2002 to 2013; 2015 and 2016; 2018 and 2019.
Ian Plunkett (Marshalstown-Castledockrell): 2006 to 2011.
Thomas Quigley (Davidstown-Courtnacuddy): 1998; 2000 and 2001.
Shane Quinn (Réalt na Mara): 2018.
Barry Redmond (Na Fianna Clonard): 2013; 2015 to 2019.
Dermot Roche R.I.P. (Bannow-Ballymitty): 1975 to 1980; 1982 to 1986.
John Rossiter (St. Mary’s, Rosslare): 1987 to 1994; 1996; 2000; 2003 and 2004; 2007.
Tom St. Ledger (Geraldine O’Hanrahans): 1990 and 1991; 1993 and 1994.
Anthony Shiggins (Shelmaliers): 1992; 2001. Tommy Rowe (Adamstown/Oylegate-Glenbrien): 1988.
Seamus Seery (St. John’s Volunteers): 1969 to 1972; 1974 and 1975; 1977 to 1983.
Paddy Shiggins (Enniscorthy): 1974; 1977; 1980 to 1984; 1986; 1988; 1990; 1994.
John Sinnott (St. Martin’s): 1987 to 1989; 1992 to 2005.
Pat Sinnott (Enniscorthy): 2000.
Matt Sludds (Oylegate-Glenbrien): 1984 and 1985.
Gay Stafford (Dan O’Connell’s): 1979.
Noel Stafford (Clongeen): 2007; 2009; 2011 and 2012.
Paddy Stamp (Castletown): 2007 and 2008; 2010. Anthony Tobin (Geraldine O’Hanrahans): 2016 to 2018.
Joe Walshe R.I.P. (St. Joseph’s): 1978 to 1980. Joe Whelan (Starlights): 1985.
Noel Whelan (Fethard): 1984; 1986 to 1996; 1998; 2000 to 2005; 2007 and 2008.
Seamus Whelan (Oylegate-Glenbrien): 1990 to 2001; 2004 to 2007.
Seán Whelan (St. Martin’s): 1999 to 2008; 2010 to 2013; 2015 to 2019.
Brian White (Rathgarogue-Cushinstown): 1989 to 1994; 1996 to 2005.
Fintan Whyte (St. James’): 2000 and 2001; 2003; 2005 to 2007; 2009; 2011.
Willie Wickham (Ballyhogue): 1991 to 1994; 1996; 2002.