Padraic Joyce insists he has no problem with Sean Hurson's appointment as All-Ireland SFC final referee.

The Tyrone match official will take charge of Sunday week's clash between Galway and Armagh, two years after he infuriated the Tribesmen by awarding Kerry a controversial late free which David Clifford converted to edge them ahead and set them up for victory.

Hurson also took charge of the drawn All-Ireland round-robin meeting of Galway and Armagh earlier this summer, and Joyce claims he is a 'top, top referee'.  

“I wouldn’t say surprised," the Galway manager said of the appointment at Galway's All-Ireland final press night. 

"But it is just that, I always say you can control everything bar the weather and the referee. I haven’t seen a free given since that for that type of a free since. 

“I don’t know, I don’t think it cost us the game two years ago. I’ve said that before. I think it just changed the momentum for us in that particular game. 

“Look, we have had Sean referee matches for us, I think this is his third or fourth game this year. He is a top, top referee. I can see why he got the final.”

Joyce also expects Sean Kelly to be fit for the final after the captain missed the semi-final win over Donegal with a hamstring problem.

“Sean is training away. He trained Tuesday night. Look, he probably wasn’t fully ready the last day so we are hoping to get another two weeks into him and we will check him out," he added.

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