HURLING REFEREE JAMES McGrath has announced his resignation after missing out on officiating in this year’s All-Ireland senior final.
Wexford’s James Owens will take charge on Sunday, 19 August as Limerick face Galway at Croke Park, with Tipperary’s Fergal Horgan on standby referee duty and Kilkenny’s Sean Cleere the linesman, while Carlow’s Patrick Murphy has been named sideline official.
McGrath, who refereed the 2012 and 2013 All-Ireland final replays, is not involved at all on match day, and he therefore has opted to hang up his whistle.
“I’m not your second choice nor your backup plan,” McGrath wrote on Facebook. “Either choose me or lose me if I’m not your first choice.
“It is with a heavy heart that I make this decision but I feel my decision has ultimately been made by CRAC [Central Referee Appointment Committee] for me to resign from the national referees panel with immediate effect.
It is final and irreversible given the lack of trust, confidence and integrity by CRAC and I feel betrayed by the association as a consequence given my 18 years of unbroken volunteerism to the association on the national referee’s panel.
“I wish to place on record my thanks to all my umpires, David Hennessy, David Clune, Tom McNicholas, Johnny Fitzpatrick, Alan Coyne, Paul Reville, Jimmy Weldon, among others, and thank all the loyal GAA diehards that I became friends with since I commenced refereeing back in 1996 [Maynooth University], Leinster panel ‘98 and the national panel in 2000.
“Wishing James Owens and Johnny Murphy, referees and all officials the very best of luck in the minor and senior finals on Sunday, 19 August next.
“God Bless a chairde, thanks again for all your loyal support and good wishes.”
James McGrath speaks to RTE Sport about his decision to retire from the inter-county referee panel in the light of the appointments committee not appointing him as one the match officials for the 2018 final pic.twitter.com/eHrGrkU2wQ
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) August 8, 2018
McGrath also spoke to RTÉ Sport‘s Marty Morrissey, where he re-iterated the reasons behind his decision. He added:
“In light of the central referees appointment committee’s decision not to include me on the team of officials for the All-Ireland senior hurling final… “I have had a brilliant 18 years refereeing at the top level. It is not a decision I take lightly, it is a decision that has been made for me.
The general feeling among a lot of the public — friends and indeed members of own club, county and community — would have said I had a very good chance of refereeing the final.
“It is hugely disappointing not to be involved because the All-Ireland final is a special occasion for every match official. I wish James Owens and his team the best of luck. James is a very capable referee and no doubt he will have a brilliant game on the 19th.”
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Doris is the obvious choice. He is a guaranteed first choice in the starting XV in the years to come, a natural leader, cool-headed, disciplined, and he has an excellent rapport with referees.
@Brian Vales: I wasn’t expecting to see his name on the list, but it does make sense. I wonder though, why he has never been named as a captain before?(even for Leinster). I would like to see himself or Ringrose… but I have a sneaky suspicion it will be James Ryan. If it is, it will make or break him. POM deserves it, but it would be very much a short term, sentimental decision and I really don’t see the benefit.
@Brian Vales: 23 bit young yet
@Sèan: 25 ah mayby his time but i see ryan as captain
@Sèan: Lots of great captains start when they are early to mid twenties. McCaw, BOD and Dupont to name a few.
@Brian Vales: Nah, had a v quiet WC, he’ll be holding his place for a few seasons methinks, but captain? Dont be silly
@Paul Ennis: yes but we never name young captains and we never start young guys i mean aged 18 are 19 look scott penny still not capped
@Sèan: BOD was a young captain. Scott Penny may never be capped in a full blooded test and that’s nothing to do with age, more to do with size. We don’t take the risks that England, NZ and SA might take with a young player, but then our resources (of young starlets) are much thinner. Young players tend to be a little more fragile so the Irish setups like to mind them for longer. Not saying the Irish way is better, but it works for us and leads to a maximum % of our U20s completing the journey into professionalism.
@Paul Ennis: yes i agree hopefully it willchange
Ryan for me
@Sèan: If it aint broken
@Thesaltyurchin: had an amazing last few years hope he will be back good as new
@Sèan: Cant agree. still think he has form to find. but do agree he should be captain moving forward.
@Thesaltyurchin: being world class last 2 years didnt have a great game v SA and all the fans saying this haha crazy
@Sèan: I think Ryan’s game sometimes suffers with the extra responsibilities of captaincy.
@John Morris: mayby
Good big leadership group with Furlong, Ryan, Henderson, Doris, VDF, Ringrose, Aki, Keenan to name but a few. Probably Ryan for me. Would prefer a captain from the pack. Special mention to Aki, he really lead by example in this tournament and was superb and inspiring.
@Arjuna: hopefully aki at 33 has lot more years sexton 38 aki be 37 next world cup
The usual suspects, but 2027 is not an option for some and surely it’s a 4yr plan, not a 2yr fix? How about ‘none of the above’ ? Although there’s no need for wholesale changes in playing personnel in the immediate term, a refreshed psyche might be just what we need to go back to back slams for the first time and make 2024 an unbeaten year.
@John Morris: Has to be someone though. And who can be certain of their place in the team for the next 4 years? (I’d say the answer to that question is Porter and Sheehan btw). Personally I’d go for Ringrose – also helps that he usually plays the full 80 minutes
@Kevin Ryan: I’ll give you Garry on mature reflection!
Ryan is the safe choice here but I could see others coming up in the next cycle as outside bets , the likes of Penny & Prendergast could be knocking on the captaincy door by 2026
@Owen ODonoghue: one game at a time
The first task of the new captain is to take on a wounded France in defence of our 6N’s title. Be prepared for an experienced player like Pete, JR, or Henderson.
The issue with Ryan is that he is no longer a nailed on starter for Ireland and you cannot skipper a team from the bench. Peter O’Mahony is the obvious choice at least for next season
@john buckley: why he longer nailed starter last two years he has being amaxing one so called poor game v SA and all saying this
He has never been dropped before – particularly for what was, at the time, a vital game. I am not saying that he will not regain his place but he has to show more more than his recent displays in France, which got him benched in the first place. He may be better off, at least in the short term, concentrating on himself, without the additional pressure of being captain.
@john buckley: ok but he has beingworld class last 2 years had one bad game must remember you cant play brillent every game could say that about every player right