Cormac Reilly has been one of top referees in Meath over the past decade and this year he enhanced his burgeoning reputation on the national stage when refereeing the All-Ireland minor final replay between Tyrone and Mayo as well as 'running' the line for Tyrone's senior win over Kerry. He rounded off a memorable year when officiating at the Meath SFC final. In refereeing terms, Cormac Reilly has been there, done that and bought the t-shirt during the past twelve months. The popular St. Mary's official was very much in demand during 2008 which reflects the high esteem he his held in as referee at both local and national levels. "It has been a super year for me personally which started off doing a couple of national football league matches and then the Connacht SFC game between London and Sligo in Ruislip as well as Kildare and Cavan in the first round of the qualifiers," remarked the 36 year old. "I was thrilled to get the All-Ireland minor final replay, it was a great honour for me to be chosen to referee the game and, hopefully, some day, I will be in the middle on senior final day. "I was probably a bit more nervous doing the line for the All-Ireland SFC final the week before, it was such a big occasion. To be appointed to do it in the first place is something else but it is extra special when it turns out to be one of the best games in recent years. "The buzz in Croke Park was unreal, it was packed with 82,000 people, and there was an unbelievable atmosphere when you walked out onto the pitch. It was a super feeling." The closeness of the contest added to the occasion as far as Reilly was concerned. "The game went down to the wire. You couldn't take your eye off the field for one split second. I remember when Paul Galvin came on the noise was just deafening, between the roars and the boos, I could hardly hear myself think at one stage and then when Tyrone started to go ahead in the last four or five minutes, the noise was unreal. "It was an experience of a lifetime and I would like to build on that in the future." Cormac was an umpire for the biggest game on the GAA calendar the year before when David Coldrick took charge of the Kerry v Cork decider. "I was involved as an umpire when David refereed the final because his dad wasn't well and he asked me to step in so I've been lucky to have been involved in two All-Ireland finals in the past two years so, hopefully, sometime down the line I will get the chance to referee one as well." Having witnessed the Red Hand County at close quarters during their narrow quarter-final win over Mayo, was Cormac surprised when they progressed to claim a third Sam Maguire victory? "I was actually very surprised. They deserved to beat Mayo on the day but only got over them by the skin of their teeth. They then went on to play Dublin and the improvement was unreal. Even after getting over Wexford in the 'semi', I think everyone still fancied Kerry to win but Tyrone proved they were the best team in the country." The 36 year old was fulsome in his praise of the attitude of Tyrone manager Mickey Harte and his players towards referees, adding it was a pleasure to officiate their games. "Super, you wouldn't hear one word off them. They might ask you what a free was for but once you explain to them why you gave the free they generally say fair enough. "Mickey Harte is a pure gentleman, he's there on the sideline and you wouldn't even know he was there. He stands there with the arms folded and he wouldn't say boo to you. "Some managers have different ways of going on but that's obviously Mickey Harte's way of dealing with things. Other managers would be more in your face, asking questions, but obviously Mickey Harte believes that's the best way for him to get the best out of his players. He must give them a good talking to before the game and at half-time because you wouldn't hear a word from him during the game." Cormac started refereeing in 2000 - the bug bit when he started to umpire for clubmate Noel Martin - and was honoured with the county 'referee of the year' award in 2002 and '03. Prior to this year his curriculum vitae included the 2003 Meath SFC final between Blackhall Gaels and Simonstown and the 2005 Intermediate decider between Rathkenny and Drumconrath plus numerous games at intercounty level and last year's Leinster Club SFC final between St. Vincent's and Tyrellspass. His panel of umpires include Michael Bell, Eugene Geraghty, Pat Lenihan, Sean Walsh, Colm McHugh and Bobby Fanning and he emphasised the importance of having men you can trust fill such an important role. "It's vitally important to have lads that you can trust with you as umpires. They are your eyes behind your back. If you go in to them and they say number 4 struck number 13, that's it, decision made. You have to have lads you can trust 100%." The escalating trend of abuse towards referees - particularly at underage level - plus ignorance of the rules are the two main problems facing officialdom in the GAA according to Reilly. "Referees starting off start at the underage levels and the abuse from parents at those matches are the worst. Most parents don't know the rules, all they want to see is little Johnny doing well. I can understand that but I would wish that people would learn the rules and know that a referee is only human and he is going to make a mistake. There's not a person born yet that won't make a mistake. "I wish people would understand that and give referees the respect they deserve. The referee is an easy target because, whatever happens, the referee is going to be blamed. It's a no win situation. "You get more respect at intercounty level than you do a club level. No referee wants to see a team beaten, no referee wants to send a player off and the last thing you want to see his abuse coming in from the sideline, starting with the manager, then the players follow. That's what it boils down to." Cormac was pleased that the rule changes to be introduced on an experimental basis in the coming year has consigned the 'black book' to the dustbin. "I think it was time to do away with that. If it's a yellow card offence it's a yellow card, red card for a red card offence. The black book was a cop out. I think that will make life a whole lot easier for referees." For all it faults, the Donore official would have no hesitation in encouraging any wannabe whistlers to try their hand at refereeing. "Refereeing provides a great outlet. I was never going to get to Croke Park as a player so refereeing has provided me with that opportunity. I really enjoy it, it's a great hobby. Some people like going fishing, like playing soccer or poker, those are hobbies and mine is refereeing. I would have no hesitation in encouraging people to take it up," he concluded. Tweet

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