Paddy Neilan
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Paddy Neilan is a Gaelic football referee. He has refereed several All-Ireland Finals and the Connacht and Munster Senior Football Championship Finals.
He was a controversial selection to referee the 2017 National League final.[1] But he refereed the game very well and then got booed and dissected on TV the night of a qualifier between Armagh and Tipperary in Thurles went wrong.[2][3] Another escort from the pitch a Guard either side of him followed after Meath and Tyrone played out a 2018 All Ireland Qualifier.[4]
He refereed the 2017 Munster Senior Football Championship final.[5] Dublin manager Jim Gavin criticised him after Kerry won.[6]
By 2019, he had refereed in every county except Waterford, Wexford, and Westmeath. [7] He was referee for the Donegal and Kerry Super 8s game in the 2019 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. He is considered the top referee in Connacht (including Roscommon). [7]
He refereed the 2022 Munster Senior Football Championship semi-final, which Limerick qualified for the final for after twelve years of absence.[8]
Neilan refereed the 2022 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-final between Dublin and Kerry.[9] He did the game without Hawk-Eye because it broke down the day before.[10][11]
After praise for how he handled the semi-final, Neilan was named as standby referee and linesman for the 2022 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final.[12]
He spent a year on the sidelines because he hurt his foot while he was officiating at a match of the 2023 National League.[13] He returned to referee in the later rounds of the 2024 National League, and his first championship match since his return was a Quarter Final of the 2024 Leinster Senior Football Championship.[14]
He was the referee for the 2024 All-Ireland U-20 Final in May 2024.[15]
Then, for what was a second time over 3 seasons he was involved officiating in an All-Ireland Final when he was linesman for the 2024 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship final when Armagh and Galway clashed.[16]
Then he was in charge of the 2025 All-Ireland Club Final in January 2025.[17][18] With a Galwayman refereeing the Hurling Final, it meant Connacht had the referee for both Senior Club Finals that year.[19] Then he was in charge for the 2025 Connacht Senior Football Championship Final.[20]
Personal life
Neilan is a member of St Faithleach's GAA club in County Roscommon. [7] He is an electrician in Sligo. He is married and, as of 2019, was a father of two, living in the Ballyleague area of Roscommon.[7]
References
- ↑ "Jim Gavin queries 'logic' behind referee's league final appointment". 4 May 2017.
- ↑ "A brutally solitary existence...Why would you want to be a ref? Honestly?". 22 July 2017.
- ↑ "Paddy Neilan is lucky Tipperary don't have more supporters judging by reaction to his performance". 15 July 2017.
- ↑ "How education can help reduce abuse aimed at GAA referees after study reveals 94% of officials have suffered verbal attacks". 1 October 2022.
- ↑ Brennan, Paul (4 July 2022). "Paddy Neilan to referee Kerry's All-Ireland semi-final against Dublin". The Kerryman.
- ↑ Fogarty, John (4 July 2022). "Paddy Neilan to referee Kerry-Dublin All-Ireland SFC semi-final". Irish Examiner.
- 1 2 3 4 Duke, Seamus (1 January 2020). "Paddy Neilan Interview – December 2019". Roscommon People Plus Magazine.
Paddy Neilan is not alone the number one Gaelic Football referee in Roscommon but in Connacht too... People in the county would say that Paddy Neilan should be refereeing the club senior final every year because he is the best referee in the county what would you say to that?
- ↑ Neville, Jack (19 May 2022). "Pa Ranahan | Diary of a Limerick football fan".
- ↑ "Top gig for Roscommon referee". Roscommon Herald. 4 July 2022. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022.
- ↑ "Watch: Hawkeye controversy at Croker as Galway have point ruled out before being awarded it again - HoganStand".[failed verification]
- ↑ "'An absolute joke' – Future of Hawkeye in doubt as GAA to review technology following semi-final blunder". 9 July 2022.[failed verification]
- ↑ "Roscommon referee part of team for All-Ireland football final". 13 July 2022. Archived from the original on 14 July 2022.
- ↑ "Top Roscommon referee on comeback trail after injury". 22 February 2024.
- ↑ "Roscommon referee back in championship action for first time since July 2022". 4 April 2024.
- ↑ "Roscommon referee to take charge of All-Ireland U-20 football final". 13 May 2024.
- ↑ "Roscommon official lined up for All-Ireland final duty". 18 July 2024.
- ↑ "Paddy Neilan will referee Errigal Ciarán v Cuala in the All-Ireland Club Senior Football final". 14 January 2025.
- ↑ Duke, Seamus (16 January 2025). "Neilan to referee All-Ireland club final".
- ↑ "Connacht's Liam Gordon and Paddy Neilan appointed as referees for All-Ireland club hurling and football finals". 13 January 2025.
- ↑ "Roscommon referee to take charge of Connacht football final". 16 January 2025.