SAD LOSS: Tributes paid to referee who sadly died after falling ill at Watford match

The London Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) community are mourning the loss of a referee who died after falling ill while officiating a match in Watford.

The GAA have paid tribute to Mattie Maher, who had been refereeing the Glen Rovers’ Radlett Road field on Saturday, April 23 when he became unwell.

The GAA is one of the county boards outside Ireland and is responsible for Gaelic games in London.

Mattie died on route to the hospital, according to the GAA’s Facebook page.

In a tribute on social media, they said: “London GAA is extremely saddened to report the absolutely awful news that referee Mattie Maher passed away earlier this evening.

“He had been reffing a provincial match in Watford when he took ill, but passed away en route to the hospital.

“But above all the Tipperary native was a family man, who often had his two beloved children alongside him on his way into the grounds for matches. It is them, his wife Denise that the board wish to pass on their most heartfelt condolences to at this desperately sad time.”