Cathal McAllister and Michael Wadding have been axed from the championship hurling referees' list according to a report in today's Irish Examiner.

The number of intercounty hurling referees has been reduced from twelve to nine. The three men to be removed from the list are McAllister, Wadding and Anthony Stapleton.

Cork's McAllister was in charge of last year's All-Ireland semi-final between Tipperary and Kilkenny, while Waterford's Wadding refereed the 2010 All-Ireland final between the same two teams.

Laois whistle-blower Stapleton officiated over the 2010 All-Ireland MHC final.

The three dropped men in black received the bad news following a meeting with national referees' chairman Pat McEnaney on Tuesday night. McEnaney believes a smaller pool of refs will be easier to work with. Tweet

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