*Niall Malone. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ENNIS’ Niall Malone has been appointed as the referee for the Munster U20 hurling final.
It will be the second time Éire Óg’s Malone officiates the provincial U20 final having overseen the 2022 decider between Limerick and Tipperary when the Shannonsiders prevailed 1-25 2-18.
Clare’s loss to Cork on Friday in the Munster semi-final sees the Ben O’Connor managed Leesiders take on Tipperary in TUS Gaelic Grounds at 8pm.
Munster GAA confirmed Niall’s appointment on Tuesday while also announcing that Limerick referee Johnny Murphy will take charge of the meeting of Clare versus Tipperary in the final round of the Munster SHC and Michael Kennedy of Tipperary will handle the clash of Limerick and Waterford, both games commencing at 4pm on Sunday.
Niall has been a referee since 2012, during this time he has been the man in the middle for two Clare SHC finals (2019 and 2023), he joined the referee’s provincial panel in 2021 and had been on the Munster Development Panel since 2020.
This season, he has also been active with games in the Allianz National Hurling League including the meeting of Carlow and Kerry while Malone and his officials had to travel to London in April when officiating the meeting of London and Sligo in the Christy Ring Cup.
