Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Alex Dunne

David Gough confirmed as referee for All-Ireland football final between Dublin and Kerry

David Gough will referee the 2019 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final between Dublin and Kerry.

It will be the Meathman's first time in charge of a decider and his family members Dean Gough, Eugene Gough, Stephen Gough, and Terry Gough will be umpires.

Gough, widely regarded as the outstanding referee of the 2019 Championship thus far, faced some pressure over his selection as he lives and works in Dublin.

Former Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice led the calls to preclude Gough from taking part in Croke Park on September 1.

"Of course when David Gough goes out to referee a match he is trying to be neutral and impartial, I am not questioning that, but it can’t be fair that if you are living and working in a place, that you get to referee an All-Ireland final involving that county," he told the Irish Examiner.

Referee David Gough (©INPHO/John McVitty)

"It’s tough on him, he is a very good referee, and Dublin are there every year.

"I do genuinely think from his own perspective, there’s huge pressure on him. I wouldn’t look on it as punishing him.

"If you live and work in a place it rules you out. It’s very hard in that instance."

The GAA have resisted the calls, however, and stuck with Gough, who also becomes the first openly gay man to referee an All-Ireland Final.

Cork's Conor Lane will be the standby referee. The other linesman is Barry Cassidy (Derry) and the sideline official will be Sean Hurson (Tyrone).

If you haven't already, be sure to like our Irish Mirror Sport and Irish Mirror GAA pages on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.                                        

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.