Axe falls on Martin Sludden
May 08, 2012
Louth manager Peter Fitzpatrick appeals with referee Martin Sludden at the end of the game.
The Tyrone official was at the centre of the biggest farce in recent GAA history when he wrongly allowed Joe Sheridan's illegal goal to stand at the end of the 2010 Leinster SFC final, effectively denying Louth their first provincial title in 53 years.
It was widely expected that he would be dropped from the panel in light of that error but he was kept on last year and oversaw the Qualifiers between Down and Leitrim and Antrim and Westmeath.
However, Sludden won't be involved this summer as the Central Referees Appointments Committee (CRAC) reduces the size of its championship panel from 18 to 16.
Westmeath's Pat Fox, Waterford's Maurice Condon and Meath's Joe Curley have also been let go while Monaghan's Pat McEnaney has retired.
Cork's Conor Lane, Derry's Barry Cassidy and Fermanagh's Martin Higgins are the three newcomers. With just 16 on the new panel, each referee will get at least three championship matches. Tweet
