Fergal Horgan (born 1979) is an Irish hurling referee and former player. His inter-county career saw him play for Tipperary and London. He later became one of hurling's top officials and refereed three All Ireland Senior Hurling Finals before retiring from inter-county refereeing in April 2023.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Irish name | Fearghal Ó hArgáin | ||
| Sport | Hurling | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Born |
1979 Dundrum, County Tipperary, Ireland | ||
| Occupation | Postman | ||
| Club(s) | |||
| Years | Club | ||
|
Knockavilla–Donaskeigh Kickhams Brother Pearses Seán Treacy's | |||
| Inter-county(ies) | |||
| Years | County | ||
1998 | Tipperary | ||
| Inter-county titles | |||
| Munster titles | 0 | ||
| All-Irelands | 0 | ||
| NHL | 0 | ||
| All Stars | 0 | ||
Career
editBorn in Dundrum, County Tipperary, Horgan first came to prominence as a member of the Knockavilla–Donaskeigh Kickhams club at juvenile and underage levels, winning county under-21 championship A honours as a 15 yr old. He later joined the senior team and enjoyed some divisional success before lining out with the Brother Pearses and Seán Treacy's clubs in London.
Horgan won multiple All-Ireland medals Tony Forristal with Tipperary U14 and 2 All Ireland’s under-16 before making his minor debut at the age of sixteen. His three seasons in this grade culminated with the winning of an All-Ireland MHC medal in 1996 and two Munster MHC medals in 1996 and 1997. Horgan later joined the Tipperary under-21 team, winning a Munster medal 1999. His senior career with Tipperary lasted one season; however, as he emigrated to London for three years. After returning to Ireland, Horgan won a Munster medal with the Tipperary intermediate team in 2002, losing the All-Ireland final in a replay to Galway.
As his playing career came to an end, Horgan began his refereeing career at club juvenile level in 2009. Two years later he was added to the Munster panel of inter-county referees before joining the national panel the following year. Horgan was the inaugural winner of the Shane Hourigan memorial Young Referee of the year 2014. He refereed the 2017 All-Ireland SHC Final.[2] [3]
He previously refereed the 2014 Ulster Senior Final 2014, the 2016,2018 & 2020 Leinster Senior Finals, the 2017 Munster Senior final, the 2014 All-Ireland Minor Hurling Final in 2014, the 2015 All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Final and the 2017 and 2019 All-Ireland Senior Club Finals.
Horgan refereed the 2020 All-Ireland final which was his second senior final. Horgan took charge of his third senior hurling final in 2021.[4]
In April 2023, Horgan announced his retirement from inter-county refereeing.Horgan is also believed to have left all codes of refereeing.[5][6]
Honours
edit- Tipperary
References
edit- ^ "Three-time All-Ireland final referee Fergal Horgan quits inter-county game". Irish Examiner. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ O'Brien, Kevin (17 August 2017). "Tipperary native Fergal Horgan appointed as All-Ireland hurling final referee". The42.ie.
- ^ Kane, Conor (1 November 2017). "All-Ireland hurling final referee to lose job in An Post cuts". The Irish Times.
- ^ Cormican, Eoghan (4 December 2020). "Fergal Horgan confirmed as All-Ireland Hurling final referee". Irish Examiner.
- ^ "'It's a farce' - Fergal Horgan announces immediate retirement from refereeing over lack of appointments". RTE Sport. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
- ^ "Tipperary referee Fergal Horgan announces his retirement from the game with immediate effect". Tipperary Live. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 12 April 2023.