Russell to whistle Tyrone - Armagh semi
Tipperary referee Paddy Russell is to take charge of Sunday's All-Ireland SFC semi-final between Tyrone and Ulster champions Armagh.
The GAA's Referees Appointment Committee confirmed the decision today which will see Russell, who reffed the 1995 All-Ireland final between Tyrone and Dublin, in the hot seat for the Ulster sides' third meeting of the championship.
It had been presumed that an Ulster referee, with top Monaghan official Pat McEnaney favoured, would be called upon to whistle Sunday's clash. McEnaney refereed the drawn Ulster SFC final between the sides.
Both Armagh boss and departed Donegal manager Brian McEniff called for Ulster referees to be in charge of Ulster championship ties in future in June, after the performance of Laois man Maurice Deegan greatly angered the duo in Armagh's 3-11 to 1-10 defeat of the Tir Chonaill men.
Meanwhile, Tyrone manager Mickey Harte is happy to be facing Armagh, only eight days after their replay defeat of Dublin.
Harte said: "Obviously the fact that we have only a matter of a few days in which to prepare for the game is a difficulty but we must face up to that. It's a problem, but a problem we are happy to be confronting, nonetheless."
