Brendan Cawley
Gaelic games referee
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Brendan Cawley is a Gaelic football referee and a member of the National Referees Panel.[1]
A member of the Sarsfields GAA club in County Kildare,[2][3] Cawley was appointed to the National Referees Panel in 2019,[4] and took charge of the 2023 National Football League final,[5] the All-Ireland Club Senior Football Championship final in 2024,[6] and the 2025 Ulster Senior Football Championship final.[7][8]
Cawley was tested with the 2024 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship quarter-final between Armagh and Kerry.[9] On 14 July, the Irish Examiner reported on its website that Cawley was the leading contender to referee the 2025 All Ireland final.[10] The next day, he was appointed for his first final as referee.[11][12] It would be his 30th SFC match.[13] He was also the first Kildare referee since 2005,[14] and seventh overall.[15] But it is his third final to be involved in overall as he was a linesman in both 2021 and 2024.[16]
The dominance of Sarsfields in the Kildare Senior Football Championship meant Cawley did not referee a final there until 2022 and by the time of his first All Ireland final he had refereed the county final in 2024 as well.[17]
The ‘’Belfast Telegraph’’, described Cawley in 2025 as “a diligent, capable whistler who allows play to flow but is quick to intercede when rough play ensues”.[18] Cahair O'Kane, journalist with ‘’The Irish News’’, called Cawley in 2025 "alongside Sean Hurson as the best referee in the country the last couple of years".[19] However, Jim McGuinness criticised decisions Cawley made during Donegal's loss to Galway in the 2024 semi-final, saying “There were a number that we weren't happy with. In the first minute, Ryan McHugh was breaking through, had two men pulling at him and he was blown for over-carrying“.[20]