ANDREW MULLIN FIRST TOOK up the whistle in 1999 to ease the pressure on Jimmy White.
White was managing several teams in the Killybegs club and was at the top of his own refereeing career at the time.
He sought assistance with refereeing and Mullin took a punt.
This Sunday, Mullin will be the man in the middle as St Eunan’s and Naomh Conaill meet in the Donegal SFC final. It will be Mullin’s biggest occasion since he first picked up a whistle in Fintra.
Picture caption: Chris McNulty of Donegal Sport Hub interviewing match referee Andrew Mullin. Picture courtesy of Gary Foy, newsandsportfiles
“I played myself for many years and I just decided that I’d referee,” he says.
“1999 was my first adult game and I took a wee break in between times.
“It’s a big commitment to give.
“I’ve got great guidance too from one of the best referees in Ulster, Jimmy White, as a tutor and as a mentor.
“When I first got into refereeing, it was through Jimmy. He was managing five teams in the club and refereeing at the same time. My first game refereeing at underage was a game between Naomh Conaill and Ardara. That was a good way to start!”
Mullin has worked underneath Referee’s Administrators Frank Dooley, Frankie Doherty and the incumbent, Pat Walsh.
The game is a much-changed one since Mullin first put a set of cards into his pocket.
“The black card has caused a lot of debate,” he says of the additional colour he now flashes.
“I haven’t noticed as much off-the-ball stuff lately as would have gone on in my day. I finished playing for Killybegs around 2004 or 2005. To be fair, the teams are more athletic based and it is a running game now.
“Another big change is that we’re mic’d up now, which is a huge bonus.
“The fitness now is a big thing for us too and you never see referees lagging behind play now. We are set targets for that.”
Mullin has been on the rise up the refereeing ladder of late and Sunday represents a huge day.
“Things have been going well for me this year,” he says.
“I had a lot of enjoyable games. One in particular that stands out was the Cloughaneely v Glenfin game in the Championship group stage. It was a real tit-for-tat game.
“I think I’ve been rewarded for good displays. There are days when it doesn’t go for you, but we get assessed regularly and you take that on the chin.
“I think referees get more slag put on them for one decision they get wrong rather than focus going on the ten they get right.”
It’s an unpopular job, but Mullin holds no regrets.
“I would recommend refereeing,” he says.
“I have enjoyed 99 per cent of the games that I’ve done.
“We do get criticism, but there was only one game where that really affected me. My partner, Siobhan Curran, was at it and she said it was brutal, some of the stuff being shouted, from women in particular. I just said that you have to realise that Mammy’s wee boy is playing out there!
“You have to be thick skinned here and if you make a mistake you shouldn’t level it out because then you’ve made two mistakes.
“I’ve made decisions that I knew would be unpopular but you just hope that they’re correct. You just move on.”
One of his regular umpires, Paul Hegarty, is a fisherman and may not be able to be in Ballybofey on Sunday. In his absence, his brother Michael Mullin or Eugene Mulligan will deputise, while Tony Byrne, John Murrin and Donal Cannon will take up their sentries at Sean MacCumhaill Park.
“I’ll be the one neutral on the pitch Sunday,” Mullin says.
“I just want a good game and to go home to reflect on a good day at the office.”
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