Westmeath chairman Sean Sheridan is writing to RTE to express his disappointment at remarks made by analyst Michael Duignan about referee Barry Kelly.

During the closing stages of last Sunday week's Leinster SHC final between Kilkenny and Dublin, which was broadcast live, Duignan - who lives on the Offaly-Westmeath border in Durrow - commented when the three-time All-Ireland referee awarded a free: "that's coming from someone who doesn't understand hurling".

The comment has prompted the Lake County's top GAA official - who refereed for over 30 years - to write to the RTE sports department about what he believes was a personal attack on Mullingar whistler Kelly, who is a schoolteacher in Birr.

"Barry Kelly is an outstanding referee and handled the Leinster final very well," Sheridan told the Westmeath Topic.

"It was a tough game and the remarks by Michael Duignan near the end were just totally unacceptable. Referee bashing has reached a new low as far as I'm concerned and I am certainly willing, and proud, to stand by our man and reject these comments." Tweet

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