The Ladies Gaelic Football Association has announced the referees for the 2026 TG4 All-Ireland Senior, Intermediate and Junior Championship Finals, to be played at Croke Park on Sunday, August 2nd.

Cavan’s Margaret Farrelly will take charge of the Senior clash between Galway and Kerry at 4.15pm, while the Intermediate Final between Fermanagh and Roscommon will be overseen by Kevin Pehlan from Laois.

The Junior decider between Antrim and Carlow, to get proceedings underway at 11.45am, will be refereed by Cork’s Conor McCarthy.

Representing the Laragh United club in Cavan, Margaret Farrelly is preparing to take charge of her third TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Final.

Farrelly refereed the famous 2014 decider between Dublin and Cork, when Cork staged an incredible comeback to claim victory, and also the 2022 Final between Meath and Kerry, when Meath landed back-to-back titles.

In 2026, Farrelly has taken charge of a number of high-profile fixtures, including four fixtures in the TG4 All-Ireland Championships. Her Championship assignments were the Donegal v Mayo and Meath v Galway fixtures in the Senior grade, as well as Limerick v Carlow at Junior level, and Wexford’s Intermediate clash with Laois.

Commenting on the news of her appointment, Farrelly said: “I’m absolutely honoured to be given the chance to referee another TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Final. I’m looking forward to a terrific game between two excellent teams.”

Intermediate Final referee Kevin Phelan is looking forward to his second experience of the big day with the whistle.

From the St Brigid’s LGFA club in Laois, and also a member of the Barrowside men’s club, Phelan was the referee for the 2019 TG4 All-Ireland Junior decider between Louth and Fermanagh.

Among Phelan’s assignments to date in 2026 were Dublin v Kerry, Armagh v Dublin and Cork v Galway in Division 1 of the Lidl National League.

More recently, he took charge of Roscommon v Down in the group stages of the TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship, while also overseeing a terrific ZuCar All-Ireland U-18 ‘A’ semi-final between Cork and Dublin.

Reflecting on the news of his appointment, Phelan said: “I’m coming closer to the end of my inter-county career and I’m truly honoured and humbled to be asked to referee this game.”

Conor McCarthy, meanwhile, is looking forward to his very first experience of the whistle on TG4 All-Ireland Finals day, having been appointed to the Junior Final.

Representing the Rosscarbery LGFA club, McCarthy was standby referee for last year’s Junior decider, and he has refereed the 2025 and 2026 TG4 Munster Senior Finals between Kerry and Waterford.

Also in 2026, McCarthy was referee for Galway’s visit to Kerry in Division 1 of the Lidl National League, and he also took charge of a pulsating Lidl NFL Division 4 Final between Carlow and Leitrim.

McCarthy said: “It’s an incredible honour for my family and club – and I’m really looking forward to the occasion and the experience.”

Referee appointments – 2026 TG4 All-Ireland Ladies Football Championship Finals 

TG4 All-Ireland Senior Championship Final 2026

Ciarraí v Gaillimh, 4.15pm, Pairc an Chrócaigh

Referee: Margaret Farrelly, Cavan

4th Official: Philip Conway, Armagh

Stand By Referee: Barry Redmond, Wexford

TG4 All-Ireland Intermediate Championship Final 2026

Fear Manach v Ros Comáin 1.45pm, Pairc an Chrócaigh

Referee: Kevin Phelan, Laois

4th Official: Eoghan O’Neill, Kildare

Stand By Referee: Angela Gallagher, Meath

TG4 All-Ireland Junior Championship Final 2026

Aontroim v Ceatharlach, 11.45am, Pairc an Chrócaigh

Referee: Conor McCarthy, Cork

4th Official: David Hurson, Monaghan

Stand By Referee: Aaron Clogher, Roscommon

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