Barry Cassidy of Derry will now referee Saturday’s inaugural Senior Football Tailteann Cup final between Cavan and Westmeath.
The Bellaghy man has been appointed to take charge of the game in Croke Park after Maurice Deegan of Laois was originally planned to referee. However after a change of fixture details, the GAA announced that Cassidy will officiate the final instead.
Cassidy has been on the Championship panel since 2012, but had a significant breakthrough in 2018 when he refereed Dublin and Galway in his first All-Ireland Quarter-final. Overseeing any final is an honour for a referee and this will especially be the case this weekend for Cassidy, with the game being the Tailteann Cup’s first ever decider.
He’s been a part of numerous big games this year already like Mayo v Monaghan in Round 1 of the Qualifiers, Armagh v Monaghan in Division 1, as well as Dublin v Tyrone in Division 1. Cassidy also oversaw Kerry v Cork in last year’s Munster Senior Football final.
Stradbally’s Deegan, who turns 50 in 2022 and is refereeing his final year, was initially appointed for the match. However this afternoon the GAA confirmed that Cassidy will instead.
There will be an extra specialty involved for Cassidy with the fact that he will be part of the first ever Tailteann Cup final. Cavan and Westmeath will do battle in a 3 pm throw-in at Croke Park this Saturday.
Con Sheehan
21 year old sports journalist from Drogheda. Student at Dublin City University. Drogheda United Correspondent for FinalWhistle.ie