Tipp official Jordan resigns from national referees panel
FULL TIME: Referee Kevin Jordan. Pic: Ben McShane/Sportsfile
Tipperary’s Kevin Jordan has resigned from the national and Munster hurling referees panel.
Considered one of the fittest match officials in the country, it is believed the Thurles Gaels man has stepped away due to a lack of opportunities.
In seven years on the provincial panel, Jordan had officiated just one Munster Club SHC game, the 2019 Sixmilebridge-Ballygunner quarter-final.
His one inter-county championship appointment this past season was the Dublin-Antrim Leinster SHC round robin game in May having taken charge of the two Allianz League fixtures, Dublin v Limerick and Offaly v Waterford. He refereed the 2018 and ’22 Tipperary SHC finals.
In October, Jordan was confirmed as one of 11 Munster referees, one of four from Tipperary, on the 2025 national panel. He passed the original national match official fitness test last January, which was failed by some colleagues.
Meanwhile, it is understood Fergal Horgan has retired from refereeing. The three-time All-Ireland senior hurling final referee retired from the inter-county scene in 2023 citing a lack of games but had continued to officiate at club level. The 45-year-old Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams man is to focus on coaching.
Elsewhere, Noel McGrath is set to play on for a 16th season with Tipperary. The Loughmore-Castleiney man, who turns 34 later this month, has been included in Liam Cahill’s training panel along with brothers John and Brian.
Aside from Cathal Barrett, forward Mark Kehoe is the most notable absentee from the 45-strong group as inter-county collective training officially returns this weekend. Patrick “Bonner” Maher and Dan McCormack retired in recent months. Robert Byrne, Paddy Cadell and two-time All-Ireland winner Barry Heffernan are also not among the long list.
U20 stars Darragh McCarthy, Sam O’Farrell and Oisín O’Donoghue are included in the set-up. Seamus Kennedy is also involved having torn his anterior cruciate ligament against Limerick in a league game last March.
Both the county’s hurling and football squads will be cut to 38 before the start of next month’s Allianz Leagues. Cahill’s hurlers begin their campaign against Galway in Salthill on January 26, while a day earlier Philly Ryan’s footballers travel to face Carlow in their Division 4 opener.
Willie Connors, Seán Hayes, Barry Hogan, Billy Seymour (all Kiladangan); Josh Keller, Jake Morris, Sam O’Farrell (all Nenagh Éire Óg); Joe Fogarty, Seánie Kenneally (both Moneygall); Michael Corcoran, Jason Forde (both Silvermines); Alan Tynan (Roscrea); Craig Morgan (Kilruane MacDonaghs); Seán Ryan (Templederry Kenyons); Darragh McCarthy (Toomevara); Ray McCormack (Borris-Ileigh); Michael Breen (Ballina); Brian McGrath, John McGrath, Noel McGrath (all Loughmore-Castleiney); Ronan Maher, Conor Stakelum, Darragh Stakelum (all Thurles Sarsfields); Kieran Cummins, Rhys Shelly, Stephen Walsh (all Moycarkey-Borris); Joe Caesar, Bryan O’Mara (both Holycross-Ballycahill); Conor Bowe, Gearóid O’Connor (both Moyne-Templetuohy); David Nolan (Gortnahoe-Glengoole); Andrew Ormond (JK Brackens); Eoghan Connolly, Oisín O’Donoghue, Cathal Quinn (Cashel King Cormacs); Robert Doyle, Danny Slattery (Clonoulty-Rossmore); Johnny Ryan (Arravale Rovers); Conor Martin (Cappawhite); Jack Leamy (Golden-Kilfeacle); Aaron O’Halloran, Gavin O’Halloran (both Carrick Swans); Seamus Kennedy, Peter McGarry (St Mary’s, Clonmel); Dylan Walsh (Ballingarry).
: Tadgh Condon, Cathal Deeley, James Morris, Seán O’Connor, Rory O’Dowd, Shane Ryan, Cian Smith (all Clonmel Commercials); Michael Freaney, Jason Madigan, Billy O’Connor, Kian Quinn, Jamie Roche, Mark Stokes (all Kilsheelan-Kilcash); Ben Comerford, Mikey Lyons, Manus McFadden (all Grangemockler); Michael Barlow, Jack O’Neill (both Ardfinnan); Darragh Brennan, Thomas Vaughan (both Ballyporeen); Jimmy Feehan, Paudie Feehan (both Killenaule); Luke Boland, Jack Harney (both Moyle Rovers); Darragh McVicker (Clonmel Óg); Liam Fahey, Luca Fitzgerald, Joe Lawrence (all Rockwell Rovers); Eoin Doocey, Micheál Lowry (both Arravale Rovers); Conor Horgan (Knockavilla Kickhams); Robbie McGrath (Galtee Rovers); Mark Russell (Aherlow); Cian O’Dwyer, Cain Russell (both Clonakenny); Kieran Costello (Thurles Sarsfields); Jack Nevin (JK Brackens); Conor Fahey (Upperchurch); Shane Lowe (Moyle-Templetuohy); Steven O’Brien, Jack O’Mahony (both Ballina); Emmet Moloney (Portlaoise); Shane Neville (Cratloe).
