"I NEEDED it," he says wearily, "like a hole in the head." Referee Pat McEnaney's eventful year came to a high profile conclusion a couple of weeks ago in Clones with law and order in retreat amidst a flurry of punches thrown in the dying moments of the Ulster club football final replay.

His weariness is unsurprising as is his desire to see the back of a year that contained an obvious highlight.

"Refereeing the All Ireland football final," he says, "particularly the first match. I'd no problems. The low point? The low point was the replay. It's like when I play. Getting stick after refereeing a match is like losing if you get praise, it's like winning."

The frustration felt by any referee who is under attack is compounded by the inability to comment on, clarify or explain decisions taken in split second circumstances.

"We could do with someone, a spokesman to the media," he says. "Soccer referees are allowed to comment through a channel, allowed to give reasons for their decisions. It's very annoying for a referee not to be able to do that while all sorts of people are giving you a hard time."

The Ulster club replay followed the All Ireland final replay, a scabrous McRory Cup Ulster colleges' final, and even the All Ireland club final which featured two disputed goals into the burgeoning file of controversies that have dogged McEnaney's biggest matches during 1996.

Constrained from being too particular in his comments, he makes this point about the McRory final. "I was disappointed that some people pointed the finger at me. The row took place after the game. It was a deep rooted thing, not easy to referee. There is an increasing tendency to point fingers at the man in the middle, to look for people to blame other than those involved."

Most observers would agree McEnaney to be among the best referees in the country. Some wouldn't. Others would say he was the best.

Only 35 and still a player with his club, he has no problem keeping up with play. There has been some criticism of his occasional tendency to let things go - a habit born of an innate confidence in his powers to remain in control of matches. But on his day - Derry Tyrone last June for instance - he is authoritative and unobtrusive.

The recent dominance of Ulster teams in the All Ireland had left him unconsidered for the main football appointment, but once Tyrone failed to make this year's final, the Monaghan referee was in with a good shout. Sure enough, the call to take charge of the Mayo Meath final came.

"Two or three weeks before the match I was told. I knew I was in with a chance. I was delighted. It's the pinnacle of any referee's career - and to do it at my age was very satisfying."

The first sign of trouble canine quickly. McEnaney was revealed to have been offered the job on a split decision. There were rumours that he was geographically too close to Meath and these lost nothing as they circulated.

"They were lies," he says before continuing in understated vein. "It was very annoying. It was said I as living in Meath and playing golf in Trim golf club. I live in Carrickmacross and I've never set foot in Trim golf club."

Nonetheless, did it affect him?

"Absolutely not."

All Ireland finals and their build up, however, bring their own pressures. "There were a lot of people looking for comments, but I concentrated on the match. I did study videos of matches and got a look at both teams, but every game is a new game. You can't plan for everything, it depends on the type of game they play.

"I'm only an hour and a half away so I came down on the morning, half an hour before the minor match and had a cup of tea. Then I watched the minor. The adrenalin was beginning to pump. Once into a game, you're up here for a few minutes, but then you settle. I don't find time flying or anything like that. I'd no strong feelings on it ending in a draw. As far as I was concerned, it was just another game two weeks down the line."

Unfortunately for McEnaney, it was to prove more than just another game. The focal point of the criticisms aimed at him - although not the only one - was the sixth minute brawl which resulted in Liam McHale and Colm Coyle being sent off.

"People say `you could have called the captains together'. I don't agree with that. If you do that, you have to send off the next fella who steps out of line. So you end up punishing one side for what happened. Maybe I should have sent off four, two from each side, instead of two."

The first match had featured a mild punch up which went unpunished and some disastrously deficient reasoning took this to mean that similar leniency would be shown in the replay. He was also accused of applying the quick free advantage unequally - constantly whistling up Mayo but allowing Meath score a crucial goal from one.

More detailed analysis showed that McEnaney's tendency had in fact been to order quick kick outs rather than frees to be retaken. There in provision in the rules for kick outs to be taken quickly.

Further recrimination centred on a quiet visit made by McEnaney to the two counties before the final. It appears to have been an unprecedented initiative and whereas it was undertaken with the best of intentions, the replay's bitter aftermath turned the visits into items of contention.

McEnaney refuses to discuss the matter and is more than his customary "annoyed" at suggestions that he misled either of the teams at these informal briefing sessions. But he is resigned to the belief that in the modern game referees are part of the battleground.

"In general the win at all costs mentality is much more common. Managers are under pressure and their players are under the same pressure to succeed. A referee will be discussed beforehand to bring out his weak and strong points."

1996 in perspective?

"I started the year hoping to do a couple of matches in Ulster and an All Ireland semi final. That was my ambition. This year, I've done eight finals: within the county, colleges and national. There won't be another year like it. I've been there, done that and got the T shirt."

Final thoughts?

"Thank God for the Christmas break."