The GAA have announced that Liam Gordon will referee the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Final between Cork and Tipperary on July 20th.
Liam is a member of the Killimor club and has also refereed the 2019 U20 final between Cork and Tipperary, the 2020 Joe McDonagh Final, the 2024 Munster Hurling Final, and the All-Ireland Senior Club Final in 2025.
In this year’s Hurling Championship, Liam has refereed Clare vs. Cork and Limerick vs. Cork in the Munster Championship, Leinster Championship, Antrim vs. Dublin, along with the All-Ireland Quarter Final involving Dublin vs. Limerick. In the Allianz League, he refereed matches between Wexford and Kilkenny, Tipperary and Cork, and Clare and Cork.
The Final will be Liam’s 18th Liam MacCarthy game to referee since his first in 2020
Liam becomes the first Galway man to referee an All-Ireland senior hurling final since Aubrey Higgins (Ardrahan) refereed the 1964 encounter where Tipperary beat Kilkenny.
Liam's umpires on the day will be Damien Gibbons, Alan McClearn, John Larkin, and Ollie Reilly, all from the Killimor club
His line umpires on the day will be Dublin’s Seán Stack and Waterford’s Thomas Walsh.
Seán will be the standby referee, and the Sideline Official will be Colm McDonald from Antrim. Dickie Murphy from Wexford will be the Hawk-Eye Official.
Previous All-Ireland Final Referees From Galway
Liam becomes the first Galway man to referee an All-Ireland senior hurling final since Aubrey Higgins (Ardrahan) refereed the 1964 encounter where Tipperary beat Kilkenny.
Other Hurling Final Referees from Galway:
Stephen Jordan (Athenry) refereed the finals of 1930, 1933 and 1934 (draw and replay).
Interestingly, Stephen has the distinction of being the first Galway man to referee both a hurling and a football decider. Having been the referee in the hurling deciders of 1930, 1933 and 1934, he took charge of the 1935 football final.
Stephen also took charge of the All-Ireland Camogie Final of 1932, where bizarrely, Galway faced Dublin at The Sportsground (Now Dexcom Stadium).
The 1938 final was officiated by Ignatius Harney (Tynagh) while the 1949 final was refereed by M.J. " Inky" Flaherty (Ballinasloe).
Other camogie final referees from Galway:
Peg Morris (1936, 1938, 1941), Celia Mulholland (1947, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952), Jane Murphy (1974, 1975, 1976), Kathleen Quinn (1983, 1984, 1989).
Other Football Final Referees from Galway:
John Dunne (Ballinasloe) in 1945, Patsy Geraghty (Ballinasloe) in 1957 and Mick Curley (Renmore/Glinsk) in 1999.
Ladies Football Final Referees:
Shane Curley (Glinsk) refereed the All-Ireland Ladies Senior Football Final in 2023 between Dublin and Kerry.
*Is there anyone we have missed? Let us know, and we will add them to the list - [email protected]
20.07.2025 (Sun)
GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship Final
Páirc an Chrócaigh, 15.30, Corcaigh v Tiobraid Árann, RTE/BBC
Referee: Liam Gordon, Gaillimh
Stand By Referee: Seán Stack, Áth Cliath
Line Umpire: Thomas Walsh, Port Láirge
Sideline Official: Colm McDonald, Aontroim
Score Umpires: Damien Gibbons, Alan McClearn, John Larkin & Ollie Reilly
Hawk-Eye Official: Dickie Murphy, Loch Garman
