Referee Pat Dempsey was honoured by both sides as he took charge of his last game in Terenure College RFC yesterday. Retiring on the eve of his 65th birthday, Pat held the whistle for the Metro Division 8 match between Terenure and Seapoint. Pat had to draw on all his experience for a close, hard fought match that finished 16-12 to Terenure College as they kept pace with NUIM Barnhall at the top of the table.
After the match, both sides honoured Pat, with Terenure captain Fionnbhar Maguire presenting him with a Terenure scarf in honour of his decades of service to the game. In the grand traditions of the ARLB, Pat has refereed up and down the leagues over the years, dedicating a huge amount of time to ensure that games not only went ahead, but that they were fair and enjoyable for all involved.
We wish Pat all the best in his retirement, and hope that he gets as much enjoyment from watching the game as he did from being the man in the middle!