Joe McQuillan

Joe McQuillan is a Gaelic football referee. He is a member of the Kill Shamrocks club in County Cavan.

McQuillan has refereed four All-Ireland finals: the 2011 decider between Dublin and Kerry, the 2013 decider between Dublin and Mayo, the 2017 decider between Dublin and Mayo and the 2021 decider between Mayo and Tyrone.[1][2][3][4]

He was the third Cavanman to referee an All-Ireland final, following Fintan Tierney of Butlersbridge (1972) and Brian Crowe of Cavan Gaels (2006).[5] Tierney, though, was originally from Longford.[6]

McQuillan was in charge during the game that produced the infamous "spitgate" incident in the 2013 National Football League - when Donegal's reigning national footballer of the year Karl Lacey, who was injured that day, was hit by some spit from the mouth of a Tyrone fan.[7] McQuillan later refereed the highly anticipated opening Ulster Championship clash between All-Ireland holders Donegal and Tyrone, winners in 2003, 2005 and 2008.[7][8]

Among the other important football matches he has refereed are the 2011 Ulster final, two Leinster finals, a Munster final and club and U21 All-Ireland finals.[9]

In 2022, Martin Breheny named him among "five of the best football referees".[10]

  1. ^ "McQuillan to referee football final". RTÉ Sport. 30 August 2011. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  2. ^ "Joe McQuillan to referee All-Ireland final between Dublin and Mayo". RTÉ Sport. 10 September 2013. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  3. ^ "Joe McQuillan to referee All-Ireland SFC final". Hogan Stand. 4 September 2017. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  4. ^ 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. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  5. ^ Fitzpatrick, Paul (31 August 2011). "No show like a Joe show as McQuillan gets All Ireland". The Anglo-Celt. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015.
  6. ^ "Death of former All-Ireland referee Fintan Tierney". Hogan Stand. 11 January 2008.
  7. ^ a b McNulty, Chris (16 May 2013). "McQuillan to take charge in Ballybofey". Donegal News. Retrieved 16 May 2013.
  8. ^ Fogarty, John (11 May 2013). "McQuillan to handle Donegal-Tyrone tie". Irish Examiner. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2013.
  9. ^ McNulty, Chris (7 July 2012). "McQuillan to ref' Ulster final". Donegal News. Archived from the original on 15 March 2015. Retrieved 7 July 2012.
  10. ^ Breheny, Martin (19 August 2022). "Five of the best football referees". Irish Independent.