Cork referee Colm Lyons to take charge of All-Ireland SHC final

Cork’s Colm Lyons has been confirmed as the referee for the All-Ireland SHC final between Limerick and Galway next Sunday week, July 19.

It will be the second time for the Nemo Rangers man to take charge of hurling’s showpiece occasion, having also been on the whistle for the 2022 decider between Limerick and Kilkenny, when the Shannonsiders won the Liam MacCarthy Cup for what was a third consecutive season.

Prior to that, Lyons – principal of Crosshaven Boys’ NS – had overseen the 2012 All-Ireland MHC final, the Allianz Hurling League and Leinster senior finals in 2017, All-Ireland Club SHC finals in 2018 and 2020 and the 2024 Munster final, when Limerick beat Clare in Thurles.

In the current championship, he had already refereed Limerick v Tipperary in the Munster championship as well as Galway’s Leinster meetings with Dublin and Kilkenny.

Prevented from consideration for the last two finals due to Cork’s involvement - in a similar way to how Johnny Murphy and Shane Hynes were out of the running here - Lyons has now been chosen for what will be his 39th Liam MacCarthy game since the first in 2012.

He will be accompanied by umpires Philip Mackey and Finian Mullane, both fellow Nemo men, along with Ciarán Hanley of Brian Dillon’s and the current Cork County Board referees’ administrator Jim McEvoy (Blarney).

Line umpires (previously known as linesmen) on the day will be fellow inter-county panel referees James Owens of Wexford and Dublin’s Chris Mooney, with Owens serving as the stand-by referee should one be required. The sideline official is Niall Malone of Clare while Tipperary’s David Grogan will be the Hawkeye official.

Sunday, July 19

All-Ireland SHC final: Limerick v Galway, Croke Park, 3.30pm (live on RTÉ and BBC television)

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)

Line umpires: James Owens (Wexford, also stand-by referee), Chris Mooney (Dublin)

Sideline official: Niall Malone (Clare)

Score umpires: Ciarán Hanley, Jim McEvoy, Philip Mackey, Finian Mullane (all Cork).

Hawkeye official: David Grogan (Tipperary).