All-Ireland Final Referee Sean Hayes RIP

The West Tipperary Board would like to offer their condolences to the family of the late Sean Hayes, Tipperary Town who passed away recently.

The 1950’s saw the emergence of another West Tipperary referee who won national recognition.

Sean was Secretary of Arravale Rovers when he took charge of the 1952 All Ireland Senior Football Final between Cavan and Meath which ended in a draw. He also officiated the replay which was won by Cavan on a final score of 0-9 to 0-5. It was Cavan’s last All Ireland Senior Football title. It was a high point of his refereeing career that saw the Arravale Rovers man take charge of three Cork versus Kerry Munster Senior Football Finals, two National Football League Finals, an All Ireland Junior Football decider and a Railway Cup Semi-Final.

1952 All-Ireland Senior Football Final

Sean was a Minor Footballer of note with Arravale Rovers. He won a West Minor Football medal with the club in 1942 and was on the Junior Football side that took Divisional honours in 1953. Drangan eventually beat them in the County Final. In 1955 he won a West Senior Football Championship medeal with Arravale Rovers playing Full back on the side that defeated Rockwell Rovers at Golden in the Divisional Final. They lost to Loughmore in the County Final.

His refereeing career began in the late forties and he made an immediate impression being quickly promoted to the top flight. His first inter-county match was a Munster Junior Football Championship tie between Cork and Limerick in Kilmallock. He refereed a Munster Minor Football Final between Cork and Kerry and then took charge of three provincial senior finals between the same counties, in 1949, 1950 and 1951. His last major game was in 1962 when he refereed Kerry versus Meath on the day of the official opening of Sean Treacy Park, Tipperary Town.

Sean also made an impact in the boardroom. In 1951 he was elected Vice Chairman of the West Board and in the same year he was one of the Division’s representatives on the County Board. He subsequently served a three year term on the County Board from 1953 to 1955. In his various capacities as a player, referee and board delegate, Sean Hayes played an important role in the affairs of West Tipperary.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam