A Roscommon man who's became the youngest ever referee on the National Hurling Referee Panel says ignoring abuse has been important in achieving his goals.
Matthew Farrell from Oran Hurling Club first became involved with refereeing after injury prevented him from playing hurling for long periods.
He's been refereering for nine years before being placed on the national panel and days he's delighted to have been selected.
Speaking on the Let's Talk show today, the 24 year old says he has had his share of abuse from the side lines over the years but he has managed not to let that put him off his ambitions by ignoring it and not letting it affect his outlook.
"I've been lucky enough that it's been mostly verbal to date. Especially when I was 16,17,18 on my way up I've been told that I should just pack it in now, that I'm never going to make it as a referee. I told myself at the time and I was told by others and good people around me that these people are just ignorant and they don't know what they're talking about and you just have to ignore them. Not that easy to do but it's what got me this far anyways!"
