Diarmuid Kirwan is an Irish hurling referee. A native of Ballyskenagh, County Offaly he lives in Ovens, County Cork where he played hurling with the local Éire Óg club.

His father, Gerry, also refereed an All-Ireland final and when the son was appointed they became the first father and son duo to have.[1]

Just after throwing the ball in at the beginning of the second half of the 2015 Leinster SHC semi-final between Kilkenny and Wexford, the hurley of Michael Fennelly struck Kirwan and knocked him to the ground.[2]

In the 2016 National Hurling League final, Kirwan controversially decided not to award Waterford a free in injury-time in a defeat to Clare.[3][4][5]

References edit

  1. ^ Coughlan, John (9 March 2021). "Diarmuid Kirwan on the highs and lows of refereeing across four decades: Offaly native settled in Éire Óg and has been in the middle at every level since the 1990s". EchoLIVE.ie.
  2. ^ O'Rourke, Steve (21 June 2015). "Referee Diarmuid Kirwan paid for getting a little too close to action this afternoon". The42.ie.
  3. ^ "John Mullane: Disgraceful referee decision cost Déise victory". RTÉ. 9 May 2016.
  4. ^ Fogarty, John (9 May 2016). "Dan Shanahan: Diarmuid Kirwan's no free call 'tough to take'". Irish Examiner.
  5. ^ Moynihan, Michael (10 May 2016). "Derek McGrath moves on from Diarmuid Kirwan's late controversial free decision". Irish Examiner.
  • Donegan, Des, The Complete Handbook of Gaelic Games (DBA Publications Limited, 2005).
Achievements
Preceded by All-Ireland MHC Final referee
2002
2003
Succeeded by
Retained
John Sexton
Preceded by All-Ireland SHC Final referee
2007
2009
Succeeded by