Tipperary's Fergal Horgan will referee next month's All-Ireland hurling senior final between Waterford and Galway.
In what will be Horgan's first appointment to the Championship's showpiece match, the Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams man will be under intense scrutiny in light of recent disciplinary issues plaguing the GAA.
Having got the nod ahead of Cork's Colm Lyons, the 38 year old is a relatively new name on the national panel of referees - he joined in 2013.
In what has been a busy year for Wexford's long-awaited win over Kilkenny in the Leinster semi-final, as well as Cork's Munster final win over Clare, were two more fixtures Horgan officiated this year.
Horgan, he also took charge of this year's All-Ireland club decider on St. Patrick's day between Cuala and Ballyea.
Inevitably, Horgan has made his share of contentious decisions this year also - a few of which concerned Waterford.
A highly debatable penalty awarded to Cork in their Munster U-21 semi-final against Waterford earlier this year allowed the Rebels to snatch a one-point victory. Waterford fans were particularly aggrieved by this at the time.
Perhaps more memorably, it was Horgan who sent off Tadhg de Búrca during Waterford's All-Ireland quarter-final clash with Wexford in July - a decision which ultimately cost de Búrca his place as the Déise took on Cork in last Sunday's All-Ireland semi-final.
Some Waterford fans haven't reacted too well to the news
Gaa could do without more controversy in Final after all that has gone on in last few weeks,so why take the chance by appointing Horgan😔😔😔😔.
— Gerdy Power (@PowerGerdy) August 17, 2017
#GAA couldn't get there way with Ozzie incident so they hire Horgan for AI final instead #upthedéise @WaterfordGAA @RTEgaa @thesundaytimes
— Bernard Beatty (@BertBertesacker) August 17, 2017
Fergal Horgan announce as ref of the final. I won't say anymore!!
— James Cooney (@therealcoo) August 17, 2017
Fergal Horgan reffing the final😠 How have the GAA decided that is a good idea?
— Paul (@paulpmcg) August 17, 2017
However, Horgan has been deemed the best candidate for what will be an incredibly important final for two counties looking to end long barren runs. He will be the first Munster man to referee the All-Ireland final since 2010.
Interestingly, the appointment comes 21 years after Horgan himself lined out for Tipperary in an All-Ireland minor final against Galway, a game in which they won.
