The GAA has confirmed the referees and match officials for the 2015 GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior and Minor Championship finals on September 6 with James Owens confirmed as the referee for the senior final. The Wexford man will take charge of his first All-Ireland final between Kilkenny and Galway.
Paud O’Dwyer of Carlow will officiate in the Minor game between Galway and Tipperary. Paud is a native of Rathgarogue/Cushenstown and represented his native county at underage level on many occasions.
James is a Kilrush/Askamore clubman and has also refereed the All-Ireland Minor final in 2007, the All-Ireland U21 final in 2008, the All-Ireland Senior Club final 2015, as well as the All-Ireland Senior Hurling semi-finals in 2013 and 2014.
In this year’s hurling championship, James has refereed the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship Quarter-Final between Galway and Cork, the Leinster Senior Hurling Quarter-Final between Laois and Offaly and the Munster Final meeting of Tipperary and Waterford.
In the Allianz Hurling League 2015, James has taken charge of Cork and Kilkenny in Round 1, Offaly and Waterford in Round 3, Kilkenny and Clare in Round 5 and the Semi-Final between Cork and Dublin. His umpires on the day will be James Dunbar, John Clarke, David Owens (all Askamore) and Ian Plunkett (Marshalstown).
Tipperary’s Johnny Ryan will be the standby referee. The other linesman is James McGrath (Westmeath) and the sideline official will be Owen Elliott (Antrim).
All of Wexford GAA wish James & Paud well in their respective finals.
