Kiltegan’s Ray is Kilkenny final ref
HURLING fans who tune into the Kilkenny Senior hurling final between Ballyhale Shamrocks and Dicksboro this Sunday at 2.30pm on TG4 will be interested to learn that the man in the middle is Kiltegan native Ray Byrne, brother of current Kiltegan GAA Club Chairman Damien Byrne.
Ray departed Kiltegan back in 1997 to go work with the Brothers of Charity in a farm management role. After living in Waterford for six months, Ray moved to Slieverue where he found love and eventually settled in Glenmore, home of such hurling legends as Christy Heffernan, Eddie O’Connor and Willie O’Connor.
Ray joined the Glenmore club in 2000 after a brief spell with Slieverue. He played alongside the aforementioned names for a number of years at Senor level before retiring due to injury.
Years spent in administration role with club and county followed before he eventually entered the world of refereeing.
Two weeks ago, he took charge of the Kilkenny Senior camogie final and this weekend he has finally secured the job of refereeing the big one, the Kilkenny Senior hurling decider.
We wish him the very best on the big day.