DIARY OF A GAA REFEREE:Dickie Murphy blows the whistle to Ian O'Riordanon what gives him the most satisfaction as a intercounty and colleges' referee

I'VE BEEN fortunate enough to referee several All-Ireland hurling finals, at both senior intercounty level, and also senior colleges level, most recently when the Dublin Colleges won their breakthrough title two years ago, beating St Flannan's in the final.

To be selected to referee a colleges final is up there with my best experiences, because you know you're dealing with the two best teams in the country. I've experienced lots of games all over the country, and particularly the Leinster area, over a long number of years, from under-14 up to senior colleges level, and can recall many high-quality games.

Some people might think that refereeing at colleges level is somehow an easier gig than, say, senior county level, but in most cases that's not really the case. With the amount of coaching going on at schools' level these days, and the experience of the teachers involved, a colleges game can be just as demanding.

There is a high level of coaching expertise in hurling now and most players at colleges level would know the rules of the game well. So the players are all well versed in what is a foul and what's not a foul and what they can and can't get away with.

I think this has improved from a number of years ago, and that a referee at colleges level won't have a whole lot of explaining to do in terms of rules and regulations. Most of the players at colleges level now, at 16, 17 or 18, have been involved for several years, including the development squads of county teams.

I also think the teachers involved at schools level put a lot of emphasis on rules, which is great. Certainly most of the colleges teams that start out thinking of winning a championship would be very professional, including their knowledge and adherence to the rules.

One of the main problems with refereeing a colleges match is that they nearly always start around 1.0pm, or early in the afternoon, which means for a lot referees working, they just can't make it. I'm okay and flexible enough with work, and can make it, but making these earlier starts doesn't suit a lot of other people.

The other big difference at colleges level is you really are on your own, and unlike a senior county match, you're not bringing along your own umpires. The way it works is two people from each school usually act as umpire, but in fairness you've got to make most of the calls yourself like, say, whether it's a square ball or not or, say, a 50-50 point. That's the hardest part really, that you are there on your own.

Naturally enough, for players of 16 or 17, it can be difficult to always accept your decisions, and discipline, I suppose. I think the more experienced referee you are the more likely they are to accept your decision, but it's certainly not easy to referee any underage game these days. You'd want your wits about you, and it's rare you get a handy game anymore.

It's not so much about abuse. I think at, say, 13 or 14 it's easy for these players to accept your decision, but at 16 or 17 there is always the odd player that won't accept your decision. Normally, if you move the ball on another 10 metres, or the teacher lets out a roar at the player, that helps. But I have to say, I've been refereeing colleges games for a long number of years now, and I don't think I've sent off any player. Of course the reality is, no matter what the game, young players at 16 or 17 can be hard enough to handle, because they'll try to go as far as they can with you.

You might think as well that there wouldn't be as much running around for the referee at schools' level, but at the top end, it can be just as demanding as county level, and you'd be kept on your toes the whole way. You just don't go out there and stand in the middle of the field.

It's also important to have a good quality standard of referees at colleges level, and in fairness, I know from working with the Leinster Council they alway try to get as many of the top referees as possible for colleges game. It's not always possible, but they would look to the national panel of referees first, and that's important, because for the two teams involved, it could be their most important game of the year.

That's also important because you have to teach these young players discipline from the early stages. If they're getting away with things at age 15 or 16, taking a yard or two here and there, they'll be looking for the mile when they go up a big further.

But with all the good coaching going on these days, at school and county level, the quality of hurling at colleges level is getting better, and certainly the players are better prepared coming into the championship games. Having said that, certain schools mightn't be as strong as they once were, simply because the students are more spread around.

Like for years, St Peter's was the big hurling school in Wexford, the same with St Kieran's in Kilkenny, but now I think it's more a case of the students going to the schools nearest them, and as a result there would be a greater spread of hurling teams. While in some ways it can be more demanding than, say, a senior county game, it can also be more enjoyable. I've seen more great hurling games at colleges level and some very good young players.

I've also seen some great players emerging as well. I remember a few years ago I first saw Richie Hogan, the Kilkenny player, in a colleges game, and to me he always looked like he would be a great player, and at the moment he's still not looking too bad.