Farrelly to ref first men’s league match

Laragh’s Maggie Farrelly is to make history again when she becomes the first woman to referee a men’s Allianz Football League match this weekend.

The Leitrim and London tie in Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday will see Farrelly throwing in the ball.

The Division Four bout follows her reffing of the Cavan senior championship final replay between Gowna and Ramor United last November. That was the first time a woman was referee for a men’s county final.

Farrelly, who’s been refereeing since 2008, was also on duty in Croke Park on Saturday as sideline official for the All-Ireland Club Championship final between Kilcoo and Kilmacud Crokes.

One of five new referees appointed to the national panel before the start of this season, Farrelly is continuing the good run female sports stars from Cavan have been having in recent months.

This Sunday London will be hoping for a third consecutive victory in the league after defeating Carlow and Waterford. Leitrim and London faceoff in Páirc Seán Mac Diarmada in Carrick-on-Shannon on Sunday at 12 noon.