Inside Track: Michael Hughes had a good career in football and refereeing

While doing a little research on hearing of the death of Michael Hughes a fortnight ago, we came across some interesting facts from 1968.

Michael was foremost among Louth referees for a long period. He rarely had a weekend off, assigned to cover games the length and breadth of the county.

READ NEXT: Inside Track: Lots of food for a hungry county

And at the same time, he had a greyhound kennel, enjoying success with his runners at Dundalk and Navan tracks.

He was rewarded for his refereeing when appointed to take charge of the 1977 county final, not long after ending his playing career. Dunleer’s Páirc Uí Mhuirí was the venue, with Cooley Kickhams taking on Newtown Blues in their quest for a second successive title.

Kickhams, who had recent Connacht senior championship medal-winner with Sligo, Bob Lipsett, at corner-forward, won by 2-12 to 2-6, Lipsett grabbing the winners’ two goals.

Michael (85), from Dromin, also refereed the 1983 intermediate final, in which St Joseph’s beat Oliver Plunketts.

Prior to becoming a man in the middle, he played club football for St Kevin’s and in 1968 was at wing-full on the team that beat one of present-day Annaghminnon Rovers’ forerunners, Fane Rangers, in the final at Knockbridge. Prior to that, in 1957, he won a championship medals in the second division grade.

In a junior final, best remembered for Dickie Kierans’ penalty save, Kevin’s had Nick Mackin at full-forward, while Harry Reilly, who, like Michael Hughes, would go on the carve out a hugely successful refereeing career for himself, was in the Fane side.

Sadly, all three, Hughes, Mackin and Reilly, have gone to their reward this year in a space of just a couple of months.

The 1968 County Board convention was held in Castlebellingham Hotel, and had an attendance of 168. Peadar Kearney, secretary/treasurer, reported that expenditure for the year came to £5,062-0-11d, bringing to just over £500 the loss for the year.

How current treasurer, Aidan Berrills, would love to be dealing with figures comparable to those. On team expenses alone, the Naomh Máirtín clubman said in his report of a few weeks ago that there was a payout this year of around €1.2 million. Back in 1962, expenses and training for the county senior team came to £62.

Also in 1968, the Louth Past & Present Players’ Association was formed. Fr Mick Hardy was chairman, Jim ‘Sogger’ Quigley and Séamie O’Donnell vice-chairmen, Frank Lynch secretary, and Stephen White treasurer.

For a number of years, the association annually presented awards to the best player, club worker and referee, etc. Eddie Boyle was first to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.