*Niall Malone. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
ÉIRE ÓG’s Niall Malone will take charge of Sunday’s Clare SHC final between Clonlara and Crusheen.
Ennis native Malone will officiate proceedings at the senior decider for the second time in his career following on from the 2019 final which saw Sixmilebridge claim the Canon Hamilton at the expense of Cratloe.
He was the man in the middle for back to back intermediate finals when Scariff sealed their return to the senior ranks in 2020 beating Tubber and in 2021 when Smith O’Briens overcame St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.
In 2020, Niall was part of the Munster Development Panel before joining the referee’s provincial panel in 2021. On the inter-county front this year, Niall handled two ties in the Munster U20 hurling championship for Cork’s wins over Tipperary and Limerick in Páirc Uí Chaoimh and TUS Gaelic Grounds.
A referee since 2012, the thirty two year old credited former match official Rory Hickey for getting him to take up to the whistle. Niall will throw the sliotar in for Sunday’s final at 2pm.
Clonlara’s Aaron Hogg will be in charge of Saturday’s intermediate final between Corofin and Sixmilebridge. It will be his first time officiating at this level to decide who claims the Paddy Browne Cup, the game commencing at 3:45pm.
Hogg who is heavily involved as the Healthy Club Officer with Clonlara is also a camogie referee and was the official for the Division 2 National Camogie League final last year. He is beginning to climb through the ranks at a provincial level. He is also regularly on hand as an umpire for fellow Clonlara referee, Joe Mullins.
Kilkee native Robert Harte has been appointed referee for the Junior A final between Clooney/Quin and Broadford.
