Westmeath referee receives national award

Westmeath referee Barry Kelly has been commended for his contribution as a hurling referee last year, by being named the Vodafone Hurling Referee of the Year for 2008. The St. Oliver Plunkett"s/Mullingar Shamrocks clubman, who took charge of the 2008 All-Ireland senior hurling final at Croke Park, was presented with the award at a luncheon in the Westbury Hotel, Dublin. Laois referee Maurice Deegan received the equivalent award for football. A hurling referee with a wealth of inter-county experience, Barry featured as the man in the middle for his first All-Ireland final in 2006, taking charge of the decider between Kilkenny and Cork, when the Cats stopped the Rebels from securing three All-Ireland titles in a row. Last year, he took charge as Kilkenny themselves claimed their a hat-trick of consecutive All-Ireland senior hurling titles by beating Waterford. Kelly received his prize in recognition of his high standard of refereeing, and an ability to keep discipline on the field, while allowing a game to flow naturally. 'It is only right that we should honour both Barry Kelly and Maurice Deegan for their stewardship of games in 2008. They are thoroughly deserving of their awards and we are privileged to have such measured refereeing in the GAA today and long may it continue,' said GAA President Nickey Brennan.