Age: 41

Job: Secondary schoolteacher, St Mary's Academy.

Club: Carlow Town Hurling Club.

Playing career: "Played for Carlow Town club up until about three years ago, mostly as a back man, going further back the older I got. The highlight would have been a Carlow junior and senior double in 1988."

Umpire team (yesterday) - Adrian Corcoran, Mick Byrne, John Quinlan, Chris Kelly.

Match-day routine: "I'll meet my umpires in Carlow around 10.30, we'll have breakfast together and then leave for Belfast (where Ahearn refereed the Derry-Down match). We'll stop for a short break in Dundalk on the way and arrive at Casement Park around 2.20 or 2.30. I like to get out on the field and see what the surface is like - if it's very wet I'll wear a cogged boot, if not a running shoe-type boot. We'll have a chat before we go out - I'll emphasise the standard things like positioning and the need for total concentration. As well as doing it myself, one of my umpires keeps the score, another also keeps the time, as well as a linesman. Casement is one of the better places for officials - there's lots of room behind the goals for umpires. Even the line flags are meticulous."

Best moment of career: "Last year's All-Ireland minor final between Galway and Tipperary.

Worst moment: "I've been lucky and nothing in particular stands out. Fellows can get angry, particularly after local matches, but it blows over."

If you could change one rule in hurling, what would it be? Rules are very good, but I do feel that mentors should be in the dug-out. There isn't any need for more than one or two to be on the pitch."