MEATH REFEREE CORMAC Reilly has returned to the roster of leading officials for this year’s Gaelic football championship after being left off the primary list last year.
Reilly returns to the 20-man panel of officials, which has expanded by two referees for the coming championship season.
Retired Laois referee Eddie Kinsella is the only one of the 18 officials from last year who isn’t included for the 2017 championship with Reilly, who was relegated to the panel of linesmen last year, listed alongside newcomers Niall Cullen (Fermanagh) and Jerome Henry (Mayo).
In 2014 Reilly drew the ire of many Mayo fans for the manner in which he handled their All-Ireland semi-final replay defeat to Kerry at the Gaelic Grounds.
In this year’s Allianz National Football League Reilly took charge of his first Mayo game since that controversial day in Limerick, when he supervised proceedings in a Division 1 game between the Green and Red and Donegal.
Mayo emerged victorious in Castlebar on that occasion, claiming the win by 1-12 to 0-13.
Meanwhile, the panel of referees for the hurling championship has also been expanded by two members with 14 officials included for this summer.
Cork’s Cathal McAllister returns after missing out last year, while Antrim referee Colum Cunning is included for the first time.
Football — championship panel of 20: Ciaran Branagan (Down), Barry Cassidy (Derry), David Coldrick (Meath), Niall Cullen (Fermanagh), Maurice Deegan (Laois), Marty Duffy (Sligo), David Gough (Meath), Jerome Henry (Mayo), Rory Hickey (Clare), Padraig Hughes (Armagh), Sean Hurson (Tyrone), Fergal Kelly (Longford), Conor Lane (Cork), Joe McQuillan (Cavan), Noel Mooney (Cavan), Paddy Neilan (Roscommon), Anthony Nolan (Wicklow), Derek O’Mahony (Tipperary), Padraig O’Sullivan (Kerry), Cormac Reilly (Meath).
Football — championship linesman Panel of 8: James Bermingham (Cork), Brendan Cawley (Kildare), Liam Devenney (Mayo), Paul Faloon (Down), John Hickey (Carlow), Shaun McLaughlin (Donegal), Martin McNally (Monaghan), James Molloy (Galway).
Hurling — championship panel of 14: Sean Cleere (Kilkenny), Colum Cunning (Antrim), Brian Gavin (Offaly), Fergal Horgan (Tipperary), John Keenan (Wicklow), Alan Kelly (Galway), Barry Kelly (Westmeath), Diarmuid Kirwan (Cork), Colm Lyons (Cork), Cathal McAllister (Cork), James McGrath (Westmeath), Paud O’Dwyer (Carlow), James Owens (Wexford), Johnny Ryan (Tipperary).
Hurling — Christy Ring and linesman panel of 6: James Clarke (Cavan), John Keane (Galway), John O’Brien (Tipperary), Rory McGann (Clare), Johnny Murphy (Limerick), Mick Murtagh (Westmeath).
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