Speculation is building as to who will be appointed as referee for the second instalment of Dublin versus Mayo.

Conor Lane's handling of the drawn game has divided opinion so there is a big interest, particularly amongst the competing counties, as to who will get the replay.

At this stage, yesterday's sideline officials - Maurice Deegan and Joe McQuillan - are amongst the front runners.

Laois whistler Deegan has two finals on his curriculum vitae (2008 Tyrone v Kerry and 2012 Donegal v Mayo) and is strongly fancied to get the nod for Saturday week.

He was one of this year's quarter-final referees (Kerry v Clare) along with Lane (Tipperary v Galway), David Gough (Mayo v Tyrone) and Ciaran Branagan (Dublin v Donegal).

Gough was one of the two semi-final refs, along with his fellow Meath man David Coldrick, while Branagan of Down took charge of Kerry's minor final win over Galway yesterday.

Like Deegan, Cavan's McQuillan is a veteran of two Sam Maguire deciders (2011 Dublin v Kerry and 2013 Dublin v Mayo) but the role he played in James McCarthy's controversial black card could count against him when the final call is made.

Another Laois man, Eddie Kinsella, can't be ruled out of the equation but it appears that the smart money would be on Stradbally clubman Deegan.

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