Issue link: http://digitaleditions.uberflip.com/i/1466433
62 | SPRING 2022 | www.ladiesgaelic.ie Development LGFA Name: Sinéad McHugh Club: St. Michael's County: Donegal What was your pathway to refereeing? I started refereeing in 2018 in Dublin and Wicklow with underage games and progressed to adult fixtures for a few games that same year. I was then selected as one of the participants on the Learn to Lead officiating strand in 2019- 2020. As a result of covid and working from home, I had the opportunity to return home to Donegal where I refereed during the summer of 2020 and subsequently refereed the Donegal Intermediate Championship Final. You recently attended the Middle East Finals, how did you find the experience? It was a great experience to attend and to be part of the Middle East Championship Finals and has been a highlight of my refereeing to date. The championships were excellently REFEREES HEAD TO MIDDLE EAST FOR FINALS organised by Abu Dhabi Na Fianna. Luckily the temperatures weren't very hot, maybe about 25 degrees so it made it very manageable to referee the games with matches starting at 8am and finishing at 6pm. How did you prepare for the trip? Fitness was the biggest factor to consider, especially with the heat and a full day of games so a lot of running in the six-eight weeks prior to the Games. After that, it was just trying to make sure to be properly prepared for the games – enough sleep, rest, making sure hydrated and refereeing two-three games each week prior to the Championships. What challenges did you experience refereeing during the Middle East Finals, if any? The biggest challenge was keeping my focus for all the games. With an early start, a full day of games and different climate to what we are used to in Ireland, I found it was a mental challenge to remain in the zone for the games. While I would normally have