Kilkenny legend Jackie Tyrrell has hailed Fergal Horgan as the "best hurling referee at the minute".
The Tipperary man has been appointed to referee Sunday's All-Ireland SHC final featuring holders Limerick and Munster rivals Cork for the first time in history. This will be his second All-Ireland senior final in-a-row having taken charge of Limerick-Waterford last December.
Horgan drew particular praise from nine-time All-Ireland winner Tyrrell for his handling of Cork's All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny earlier this month.
"I thought he was outstanding that day [Cork v Kilkenny, All-Ireland semi-final] and I'd expect him to be just as good this weekend. "There's no doubt about it that he's the best hurling referee at the minute," Tyrrell said on RTÉ GAA Podcast's special All-Ireland SHC preview.
"For Conor Lane in the football [Mayo v Dublin, All-Ireland semi-final, there was so much going on, it kind of reminded me of 2012 when we played Tipperary... sometimes games like that when there's that familiarity, obviously Dublin and Mayo know each other so well, there's history and agendas from years gone by."
"From a Cork and Limerick point of view, they don't know each other a whole lot and haven't met in an All-Ireland [final]. They met in an All-Ireland semi-final [in 2013] but there's not that familiarity that exists between Dublin and Mayo.
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