County final referee Ciarán O'Regan looking to make further progress

This year’s Co-op SuperStores Cork Premier SHC final represented another significant milestone in the career of referee Ciarán O’Regan, as well as completing a unique double.

In August, the Ballyhea native took charge of the Kerry SHC final between Crotta O’Neills and Lixnaw – a period working in radio in the Kingdom saw him become involved there – and then his progress at home was rewarded by being given the whistle for the Cork decider between Sarsfields and Midleton.

There was widespread praise for O’Regan’s performance and he is hopeful that a journey that began more than a decade ago still has more to go.

“I’m lucky that there’s a strong tradition of refereeing in Ballyhea,” he says, “with John Sexton, David Copps and Michael O’Kelly.

“I started umpiring with Michael in the camogie – in 2011, we did four All-Ireland finals in the one year.

“Then I started umpiring with John and he was stuck for a linesman for a county U21 semi-final in Páirc Uí Chaoimh. I filled in and I just caught the bug; I did the course, in Patrickswell in Limerick as there was none in Cork at the time, and it went from there.

“I was umpire for the 2012 county final between Sars and Bishopstown – I wouldn’t have thought would be reffing it 11 years later!

Having played for Longford while working there, Ciarán’s playing career had to make way so that he could made further strides in refereeing.

“When I was in Kerry and Longford, I’d have done games midweeks there and games in Cork at the weekends,” he says.

“I suppose it was a slow process. I would have got frustrated at times and would have liked to have gone up quicker buy you have to bide your time – it’s like a very long apprenticeship.”

Moving up through the ranks, the job becomes more demanding in terms of time – Ciarán is grateful to his wife Sarah and daughter Caitlín for their understanding – but in ways the higher levels can be easier to referee.

“The fitness gets a lot tougher,” he says.

“I’m on the Munster referees’ panel and the national support panel and we train every Tuesday night in Mallow, in preparation for the provincial club championships and next year’s minor. We’ll have fitness tests in the new year.

“At underage level, you can see coaches rubbing off on players and I’ve had to speak to a few coaches over the years.

“With most adult teams, I’ve refereed them enough over the years that they know where they stand with me.

“I think I only brought the ball forward once in the senior final. I say to the captains beforehand that I want them to play hurling and I don’t want to be blowing.

“If they’re fouling, I’ll blow; if they’re not I’ll leave it flow.

“I’m being assessed all the time, so you’re trying to find the happy medium where you’re leaving the game blow but also blowing the fouls.

“I think I found that in the county final but, in fairness, the players played hurling.”
O’Regan gives a lot of credit to county referees’ administrator Niall Barrett for the way he has helped to change refereeing in the county, while the new referees’ committee has been beneficial to all.

“I’ve been assessed in every game, as far as I know,” he says.

“Colm Lyons is being assessed in his games, even though you might think he wouldn’t need it.

“It’s not there to criticise fellas, it’s all about helping and improving referees – they’re called advisors now rather than assessors.

“Fellas will see things that I don’t see and say it back. It has certainly helped me; if you make a mistake, you won’t make it a second time.”

With Shane Scanlon and Patrick O’Mahony – both in their 20s – as the linesmen in the final, it was a very youthful team of officials. That duo are headed towards Munster recognition and O’Regan feels that they all drive each other on.

“I want to go all the way,” he says.

“That’s the plan but, again, once you get up there, it’s another long apprenticeship and there are things that are out of control.

“Some great Cork referees have just missed out on All-Ireland finals. Colm thankfully got one and he deserved it.”

O’Regan is also grateful to his umpiring corps, consisting in the main of his uncle Damien, Tom Woulfe, Jamie Lane, Dan Long, Richie Troy and his brothers Fergus and Aidan.
“They call themselves the A-team on WhatsApp!” he laughs.

“I wouldn’t survive with just four though, so it’s good to have seven or eight fellas.

“Jamie was on holidays in Lanzarote the week before the final, so I did the North Cork final on the Saturday and then collected him from Shannon.

“That shows the dedication. They take the mickey out of each other but they also drive each other on.”