Limerick official takes charge of hurling's showpiece game

LIMERICK'S Johnny Murphy will referee the All-Ireland Senior Hurling final between Clare and Cork on Sunday between Cork and Clare in Croke Park at 3:30pm. This will be Murphy's first All-Ireland decider. 

The Ballylanders native has refereed the All-Ireland Minor Final in 2018, U20 All-Ireland Final in 2021, Leinster Hurling Final in 2021, and the All-Ireland Senior Club Final in 2023. 

Murphy has refereed four games in this year's Championship. 

The Limerick's man umpires on the day include Micheal Meade, James Hickey and Jimmy Barry Murphy from the Ballylanders club and Andy Dooley from Garryspillane.

Liam Gordon and Michael Kennedy will be his linesman on the day, while Chris Mooney will carry out the role of sideline official.

Limerick's involvement in four of the last five All-Ireland SHC final's has ruled Murphy out from refereeing hurling's biggest day.

He becomes the first Limerick man since 2003 to referee the decider. Pat O'Connor was the last man from the Treaty County to referee an All-Ireland decider.

Murphy played minor hurling and football with Limerick in 1996, before graduating on to play intermediate hurling with the green and white.

However, he is best known as an inter-county senior footballer. Murphy first dipped his toe into refereeing when taking charge of an U12 football fixture between Coisle Gaels and Garryspillane in 2000.