Meath team for the big game

THE question often arises, who would be a referee? However, for Meath whistler David Coldrick the answer is very simple -  a chance to take charge of the biggest game in the GAA calendar, an All-Ireland SFC final.

Next Sunday,  the Blackhall Gaels clubman's ambitions will be realised when he will handle the historic 2007 decider between arch Munster rivals, Kerry and Cork. It will be a proud occasion for him, his family, his club and the parish of Batterstown.

Coldrick will join an elite group of Meath men to have taken charge of an All-Ireland SFC final. The first was Wilkinstown's Richard Blake in 1894 who refereed the Dublin v Cork final and the replay which took place the following year in Thurles.

Over half a century later, in 1953, Peter McDermott handled the Armagh v Kerry final and he also refereed the 1956 Cork against Galway decider. The last Meath man to referee an All-Ireland final was Paddy Kavanagh, who took charge of the Kerry v Dublin final in 1985.

So for Coldrick, next Sunday marks a milestone in his career. A career which started out in 1994 and has required a hectic fitness schedule to keep up with the demands placed on a top-class referee.

nerves won't be a problem for Coldrick in the week leading up to the big day as he has had to deal with more important issues over the last few weeks after his father suffered a mild heart attack.

His father is over the worst, but his son's thoughts were re-focused for a couple of weeks. However, as the big day looms Coldrick only has one thing on his mind although he will have to take the field without his father as one of his umpires.

"It is hugely important to have my own team of umpires with me. Everybody has a part to play and the lads that will be with me on Sunday are the lads that have been with me since day one," said Coldrick.

"Unfortunately my father had a mild heart attack last week and won't be fit for the game. He is the one I feel most sorry for because he definitely has been there since day one so for him to miss out is disappointing. He just won't be ready and that saddens the occasion a little.

"He is chuffed that I got the job and he will be there to support me. It was great news to get the All-Ireland final because it had been a very tough week for all the family.

"Since both Meath and Dublin were knocked out of the championship you know that you are in with a chance of getting the All-Ireland final, but circumstances meant I wasn't thinking about it at all.

"By the time the game comes around I'm sure the nerves will be up again and that is part and parcel of every game and even more so for an All-Ireland final," he said.

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"No referee goes out to purposely make a mistake in any game. The inter-county referees meet in Athlone once a month and we look back at videos of decisions both good and bad and try to improve."

Coldrick is no stranger to the big stage. He has refereed Munster SFC finals and was one of the officials in charge for last year's International Rules series, but the All-Ireland SFC final is the big one and Coldrick appreciates that.

"This is the biggest honour for me from a refereeing point of view. This is the reason I got started in the first place. It is a great honour for myself, my family and the club. This is the pinnacle," he said.

"It is all about seeing some steady progression and that has been the case for the last couple of years. The Munster SFC final two years ago was definitely the highlight up to now.

"Putting aside all the stuff that happened in the International Rules last year, being a part of it was a great honour. It was great going there in 2005 and getting to referee here in 2006, but from a Gaelic football point of view the All-Ireland final is the key one."

To be a referee you must be very thick skinned. The amount of abuse thrown at referees is sickening, but Coldrick knows to turn a deaf ear and he appreciates the passion involved in the GAA. He always has been involved in the game and he wants to be the very best at what he does,

"The goal has always been to referee an All-Ireland final, but that doesn't mean that you take every bit of abuse that is thrown at you. I enjoy most of the games I do," said Coldrick.

"When I have a bad game I know I have had a bad game. I just want to make that better the next time I go out and I do have great enjoyment from it. There is a great group of lads within the county and at inter-county level and I've made some good friends that way.

"The ultimate aim was to be a Meath footballer, but I knew I wouldn't make it. I have always been involved with the GAA and I will continue to be involved.

"No referee goes out to purposely make a mistake in any game. The inter-county referees meet in Athlone once a month and we look back at videos of decisions both good and bad and try to improve.

"Trial by television is easy, but the referee has to make a decision on the spot and doesn't have the option of three or four angles.

"When we slow it down on video we can say 'yes we may have made an error there', but we have to try to get that out of our mind when we are refereeing. You must be as fit as possible and try to keep up with play.

"You must be prepared both mentally and physically and keep TV footage out of your head. What happens afterwards with the CCC is up to the administrators," concluded the Blackhall Gaels man.

Coldrick's umpires for the big game will be his brother John, Gerry Lynch from Dunshaughlin, Drumree's Seamus Gaughan and St. Mary's referee Cormac Reilly will fill the spot vacated by David's father.