Roscommon referee back in championship action for first time since July 2022
Paddy Neilan missed last year's All-Ireland senior football championship through injury. Picture: INPHO/Evan Logan
One of County Roscommon’s top GAA referees will take charge of his first senior football championship game since July 2022 this weekend.
Paddy Neilan is due to referee of Sunday’s Leinster Senior Football Championship contest between recently-crowned Division Three League champions, Westmeath, and Wicklow at Laois Hire O’Moore Park, Portlaoise.
Neilan suffered a foot injury during an Allianz Football League game between Cavan and Down at Kingspan Breffni in early March 2023, having refereed the previous year’s All-Ireland semi-final between Dublin and Kerry. He was also standby referee for the 2022 All-Ireland football final between Kerry and Galway.
He has returned to action in recent weeks, taking charge of games in the latter rounds of the Allianz Football League after passing the required fitness test.
Meanwhile, a number of referees from the county have taken charge of Connacht U-20 football championship games in recent weeks.
Dermot Lyons from Castlerea St. Kevin’s refereed the recent clash between Mayo and Galway at Hastings Insurance MacHale Park, Castlebar. Lyons is a linesman for this weekend's Connacht SFC match between London and Galway in Ruislip.
Yesterday evening (Wednesday), Aaron Clogher from Pádraig Pearses was the man in the middle for Leitrim’s famous victory against Mayo in Ballinamore.
On Wednesday next, Ian Monaghan from St. Brigid’s will be in charge of Sligo’s game against Leitrim at Markievicz Park.
