John Gough

John Gough (born 1937) The Irish Times reported afterwards:

Gough gave pre-match interviews commenting on the competing teams, which prompted Croke Park to issue guidance ahead of the 1984 season discouraging referees from making similar remarks, on the basis that they could give rise to perceptions of bias.

Gough refereed the All-Ireland Under-21 Football Championship final in 1985, as well as finals of the Ulster Senior Football Championship, the National Football League, and the Sigerson Cup. He also served as a linesman at several All-Ireland finals in both football and hurling.

Gough was 45 when he took charge of the 1983 final, and retired from refereeing in 1997 at the age of 60, going on to serve as a national tutor and assessor of referees.