Limerick referee takes charge of prestigious UEFA European soccer final

LIMERICK soccer referee Rob Hennessy has taken charges of the prestigious UEFA Under-19 Championship final between Spain and the Netherlands at the Giulesti Stadium in Bucharest last night.

Netherlands earned a narrow win over Spain to earn their first title in the 2025 UEFA European Under-19 Championship final.

Hennessy  took charge of Spain’s 1-0 win over Denmark earlier in the tournament and officiated at the meeting of the Netherlands and England in Bucharest that saw the Dutch side win 4-2.

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He was also fourth official for Spain's dramatic 6-5 semi-final triumph over Germany on Monday night.

The highly rated Hennessy has refereed in the Limerick and Clare schoolboy and junior leagues.

He has been on the SSE Airtricity League panel since 2013 and progressed to the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division panel in 2015. 

In 2017, Hennessy was selected on the FIFA International Referees panel for the first time.

Former Na Piarsaigh GAA player Hennessy led an experienced team of officials for Thursday night's prestigious European U19 final, accompanied by fellow Irish Assistant Referee Christopher Campbell. They were joined by Austrian official Michael Obritzberger on the other line, with Antoni Bandić of Bosnia and Herzegovina serving as the fourth official.

This significant appointment is a testament to Hennessy's high standard of officiating throughout the tournament this month. He has impressed UEFA officials in key matches.

FAI League of Ireland Referee Manager Eddie Foley said: "This is a brilliant achievement for Rob Hennessy and a significant marker in his progression as a match official. It's a huge honour and we extend our congratulations to him on this appointment, which is a clear endorsement from the UEFA Referee Committee of his performances throughout the tournament.

"It's fantastic to see Irish officials operating at the highest levels of European football. Rob and Christopher's involvement in this final showcases the clear pathway that exists for our referees, progressing from grassroots football right up through the League of Ireland and onto the international stage.

"Our intention is to continue fostering and developing our match officials to ensure we see more of them performing at these elite levels, and appointments like this are a tremendous encouragement for all aspiring referees in Ireland."