Barry Kelly has been confirmed as the referee for the All-Ireland SHC final between Kilkenny and Tipperary.

The GAA has announced that the Westmeath official will take charge of the senior contest while Fergal Horgan of Tipperary will officiate in the minor game between Kilkenny v Limerick.

This will be Kelly's fourth senior assignment, having previously taken charge of the 2012 drawn final between Kilkenny and Galway, the 2008 final between Kilkenny and Waterford and 2006 final between Kilkenny and Cork.

The St. Oliver Plunkett's clubman has also refereed the All-Ireland Minor Final in 2000, All-Ireland Under 21 final in 2004, All-Ireland Senior Club final 2014 and 2004, three Leinster Finals, one Munster Final and one Ulster Final.

In this year's hurling championship, he has refereed the All-Ireland SHC quarter-final between Limerick and Wexford, the Leinster SHC final between Dublin and Kilkenny and the Munster SHC meeting of Tipperary v Limerick. His appointment to the showpiece game comes a year after his wife Catherine passed away. Poigantly, her funeral took place on the same day as last year's drawn All-Ireland SHC final between Clare and Cork.

Kelly's umpires on the day will be Séamus O'Brien, Michael Coyle (both St. Oliver Plunkett's), Paddy Walsh (Clonkill) and Paul Reville (Turin).

Offaly's Brian Gavin will be the standby referee. The other linesman is Colm Lyons (Cork) and the sideline official will be Cathal McAllsiter (Cork).

Fergal Horgan, meanwhile, is a member of the Knockavilla Kickhams club and won an All-Ireland MHC medal with Tipperary in 1996. 

His umpires on the day will be David Heelan, Alan Horgan, Paul Ryan and John Hadnett (all Knockavilla Kickhams).

Wicklow's John Keenan will be the standby referee, the other linesman is Eamonn Hassan (Derry) and the sideline official will be James Clarke (Cavan).

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