Tipperary referee Fergal Horgan announces his retirement from the game with immediate effect

Referee Fergal Horgan has announced that he is retiring from the game with immediate effect.

During an illustrious career as the man in the middle, the Knockavilla/Donaskeigh Kickhams clubman took charge of three All-Ireland senior hurling finals in 2017, 2020 and 2021, as well as many other big games at national and provincial level.

In the course of his playing career, the 44-year-old Knockavilla/Donaskeigh Kickhams clubman was a goalkeeper who won an All-Ireland Minor Hurling Championship with Tipperary in 1996, and Munster Minor Hurling Championships in 1996 and '97.

He told Tipperary Mid West Radio that he was stepping down because of a lack of appointments from GAA headquarters in recent years, and that it was a big decision for him to step away.

He said he had enjoyed his time as a referee and that he loved refereeing, but that he was disappointed with the way he had been treated by the Association and that he had received no support from "the top level".

He thanked everyone who had helped him in his career.

It's also understood that he will no longer referee club games as well.