The Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Football Championship Final takes place on Wednesday evening in Laois Hire O’Moore Park between Dublin and Kildare and the referee for the big game is Dunshaughlin whistler Andrew Smith, for what is his first Leinster Final.
Andrew has had a rapid ascent through the ranks since first taking up the whistle in 2018 and within a few short years he had progressed to the Leinster panel. Of course he is following in the footsteps of his proud father as it is twenty three years since Jim Smith refereed the Leinster Minor Final between Dublin and Westmeath in Croke Park.
Referees Administrator Dudley Farrell has expressed his delight at the appointment and passed on his best wishes to Andrew and his team of officials.
“The referees committee would like to congratulate Andrew Smith on his appointment to the Electric Ireland Leinster Minor Football Championship Final on Wednesday evening in Portlaoise.
It is a testament to his hard work and dedication to his role that he is appointed to the final in his third year on the Leinster panel. He continues a proud tradition of excellent referees from the Royal County.
We wish Andrew and his team of umpires all the best on Wednesday.”
County Board Chairman John Kavanagh, whose father Paddy is widely regarded as one of the finest whistlers Meath has produced also congratulated Andrew.
“On behalf of the Meath Management Committee and all the clubs in the county, I would like to wish Andrew and his team of officials all the best in the final on Wednesday evening. Since he took up the whistle in 2018, Andrew has been steadily progressing through the ranks of referees in the county and now also in Leinster.
He has taken charge of big games in the county including Feis Cup and Minor Football Championship Finals and Wednesday evening is another step forwards in his career as a referee.
Twelve months ago Patrick Coyle took charge of this fixture and it is a testament to the quality of referees we have in the county that there is a Meath referee in the Leinster Minor Final for the second year in succession.”
16-10-22. Donaghmore/Ashbourne v Seneschalstown- MFC Final at Pairc Tailteann.
Donaghmore/Ashbourne team captain Oisin Daly and Seneschalstown team captain Robbie Finnegan. Andrew Smith is the referee.
Photo: John Quirke / www.quirke.ie
©John Quirke Photography, 16 Proudstown Road, Navan. Co. Meath. (info@quirke.ie / 046-9028461 / 087-2579454).
Andrew will be joined by his four umpires on Wednesday evening – Neil O’Dwyer, Tom Foran, Jim Smith and Enda Smith.
By Brian Kelly Tue 30th May
