John Gough (referee)
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1937 (age 88–89) |
| Years active | c. 1980s–1997 |
| Employer | GAA |
| Sport | |
| Sport | Gaelic football |
| Position | Referee |
| Club | St John's |
John Gough (born 1937)[1] is a former Gaelic football referee, who also officiated at hurling matches. He is a member of the St John's club in County Antrim.
Career
Gough took charge of the 1983 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final, contested by Dublin and Galway.[2][3] The Irish Times reported afterwards:
The referee, John Gough, found himself in a horrid situation, and though he brought his authority to bear on some of the worst incidents of misconduct many of his decisions were mystifying and brought the ire of both sides down upon his head.
Four players were sent to the line, the largest exodus in a final in recent times: three were dismissed between Galway and Kerry in 1965, two of them Kerry players.[4]
Gough gave pre-match interviews commenting on the competing teams, which prompted Croke Park to issue guidance ahead of the 1984 season discouraging referees from making similar remarks, on the basis that they could give rise to perceptions of bias.[5]
Gough refereed the All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship final in 1985, as well as finals of the Ulster Senior Football Championship, the National Football League, and the Sigerson Cup. He also served as a linesman at several All-Ireland finals in both football and hurling.[6]
Gough was 45 when he took charge of the 1983 final, and retired from refereeing in 1997 at the age of 60, going on to serve as a national tutor and assessor of referees.[1]
References
- ^ a b McCann, Ryan (31 July 2015). "Gough says northern referees haven't been at required level". The Irish News. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022.
- ^ O'Sullivan, Jim (16 November 2006). "Former official Gough says current ref standards are best ever". Irish Examiner.
- ^ Dunne, Alex (9 August 2018). "Former Dublin boss Paul Caffrey remembers 1983 All-Ireland Final as the '12 Apostles' overcame Galway".
- ^ Downey, Paddy (16 September 2009). "FROM THE ARCHIVE ALL-IRELAND FOOTBALL FINAL, SEPTEMBER 18TH, 1983: PADDY DOWNEY reported on 'one of the worst but also one of the most remarkable football finals ever played'". The Irish Times.
- ^ Breheny, Martin (8 September 2021). "Pressure is on referee Joe McQuillan to steer Mayo-Tyrone All-Ireland final through various battles of will". Irish Independent.
- ^ "History". St John's GAA (Antrim).