Paddy Collins (referee)

Paddy Collins

Full name	Paddy Collins
Born	1942 (age 82–83) Athboy, County Meath, Ireland

Patrick Collins (born 1942) is an Irish former Gaelic football referee and Gaelic games administrator. Born in Athboy, County Meath, Collins refereed the All-Ireland SFC finals of 1976, 1981, 1984 and 1989. A 2014 article in Hoganstand.com noted that he is regarded as "one of the top football referees of all time".[1]

Páidí Ó Sé appointed him as a selector when he was made manager of the Westmeath senior football team in 2003, by which time Collins had long served as secretary of the Westmeath County Board.[2]

Collins remained involved with the Westmeath senior team under Ó Sé's successor as manager Tomás Ó Flatharta, appointed in 2005.[3]

Collins was also county secretary in 2000 when manager Brendan Lowry received a controversial six-month ban which was later lifted.[4]

In 2022, Martin Breheny named him among "five of the best football referees".[5]

References

1. "Collins takes up DRA role". Hogan Stand. 12 November 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
2. Keys, Colm (7 November 2003). "Ó Sé recruits Westmeath secretary". Irish Independent.
3. "Ó Flatharta confirmed as Westmeath boss". Irish Examiner. 1 October 2005. While county secretary Paddy Collins is to remain part of the backroom staff, Ballyferriter man Ó Flatharta is expected to name his selectors in the coming weeks.
4. O'Riordan, Tom (4 March 2000). "Westmeath joy as Lowry ban lifted". Irish Independent.
5. Breheny, Martin (19 August 2022). "Five of the best football referees". Irish Independent.