Diarmuid has been living for a number of years in Cork, where he is a member of the Erin's Own club in Ovens, and his appointment sees him follow in the footsteps of his father Gerry, who officiated at the 1988 All-Ireland SHC final between Galway and Tipperary.
It is a unique first for the Kirwan clan and when Diarmuid steps out on to Croke Park he will be the tenth Offaly native to take charge of hurling's showpiece contest.
Offaly's nine previous All-Ireland senior hurling final referees are; Pat White (1887); Sean Robbins (1928, 1929, 1931 (draw), 1931 (1st replay) and 1932); Jim Flaherty (1937, 1939 and 1946); Pat O'Connell (1953); Matt Spain (1958); John Dowling (1960, 1962 and 1968); Mick Spain (1972); Gerry Kirwan (1988) and Pat Horan (1996). Diarmuid played hurling and football with Ballyskenach and he has played hurling at junior and intermediate levels with Erin's Own.
On the inter-county refereeing panel since 2000, he refereed the All-Ireland minor final in 2002 and four years later, he was in charge of the National Hurling League Final and the Leinster SHC final.
Diarmuid refereed his first Cork SHC Final in 2000 and incredibly, a year later, his father was the man in the middle for the Offaly SHC Final between Birr and St Rynagh's. That was Gerry's 12th time to referee the county final, coming twenty-eight years after he first took charge of the final back in 1973. Diarmuid was just five years old in '73!
Similar to Diarmuid, in 1988 Gerry had charge of the whistle for the All-Ireland club final before his inter-county September assignment. Diarmuid also refereed this year's AIB Club Final between Ballyhale Shamrocks and Loughrea.
Other major fixtures for Diarmuid in 2007 were the National League semi-final
between Kilkenny and Wexford and the first Munster championship semi-final meeting
between Tipperary and Limerick.
Prior to refereeing the 1988 final, Gerry also refereed the 1987 All-Ireland
semi-final, also between Galway and Tipperary and he described that match as,
"In terms of entertainment, possibly the greatest match I ever refereed."
Gerry's All-Ireland final appointment in 1988 certainly didn't go to his head and the man who became a referee by accident in 1964, in a previous interview with Express Sport, said; "The '88 All-Ireland Final came late in my inter-county refereeing career. Naturally, I was delighted to be appointed, but I wouldn't say I was fulfilling my ultimate aim. I think there is more pride attached to refereeing a big match among your own people. Be it an Under 12 or senior final. That is my personal opinion. Some may not agree, but that's how it is."
When Gerry refereed his first Offaly senior final in 1973 his umpires were his brothers Martin and Johnny, Pat Hoolan and Johnny McLeish. Three of the four were also on duty for the '88 All-Ireland Final – his brothers Martin & Johnny, along with Pat Hoolan and Neddy Franks.
In addition to the '88 final, Gerry refereed All-Ireland club finals in 1987 & '88, All-Ireland JHC Final in '76, All-Ireland U-21 HC finals in 1976 & '82, All-Ireland MHC final in 1977, 12 Offaly SHC Finals, three NHL finals, and provincial finals at all grades and numerous Offaly finals at all grades.
Interestingly, when Gerry refereed his first and only Offaly minor hurling
final in 1998, between Kilcormac/Killoughey and Kinnitty his umpires were four
of his six sons – Diarmuid, Eugene, Mark and Ciaran.
As a player, Gerry won a Division 2 NHL medal with Offaly in 1966 and in 1979
he captained the Ballyskenach team that won the Offaly intermediate hurling
title, a team that also included his brothers Johnny, Paddy and Martin.
In 1994 he was full back on the Ballyskenach team that won the Offaly junior hurling final and it was another Kirwan family affair as Paddy managed the side and the panel included Gerry's sons Eugene, Ciaran, Mark and John.
Diarmuid Kirwan's supporting officials on September 2 are St Brendan's CS, Birr teacher Barry Kelly (Westmeath), who is the stand-by referee and linesman. Michael Wadding of Waterford will also act as linesman and the sideline official will be Cavan's Brendan Sweeney. Kelly refereed last year's final between Kilkenny and Cork.
(C) Offaly Express 23 August 2007
Home | Archives | Photo Gallery | Contact Us