{{short description|Gaelic football referee}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}} {{Use Hiberno-English|date=March 2016}} '''Conor Lane''' is a Gaelic football referee. He is a member of the Banteer/Lyre club in County Cork and has refereed three All-Ireland SFC finals.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Donoghue |first1=Eamon |title=Conor Lane confirmed as football final referee |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/conor-lane-confirmed-as-football-final-referee-1.3602090 |publisher=The Irish Times |date=August 20, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Donoghue |first1=Eamon |title=Cork referee assigned All-Ireland football final |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/cork-referee-assigned-all-ireland-football-final-1.2774465 |publisher=The Irish Times |date=August 31, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Cork's Conor Lane to referee All-Ireland final replay as ticket prices reduced |url=https://www.thejournal.ie/conor-lane/news/ |publisher=The Journal |date=September 2, 2019}}</ref>
==Career== Conor Lane was appointed to the national panel of referees for the senior championship panel in 2012.<ref>{{cite news|first=Colm|last=Keys|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/sludden-loses-elite-status-as-gaa-referees-chiefs-ring-changes-26851161.html|title=GAA referees chiefs ring changes|newspaper=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|date=8 May 2012|accessdate=17 March 2016}}</ref> In 2013, he refereed the All-Ireland Minor final.<ref name="ref replay final" />
The Derry manager severely criticised Lane after the team exited the 2015 All-Ireland SFC to Galway.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/gaelic-games/33564387|title=Brian McIver lambasts referee as he quits Derry after Galway defeat|publisher=BBC|date=18 July 2015}}</ref>
In March 2016, he officiated at his first Club Senior Final in Croke Park when Ballyboden played Castlebar Mitchels in the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship final. <ref>{{cite news|title=Ballyboden stroll to a first All-Ireland football club success|url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2016/0317/775594-ballyboden-v-castlebar/|work=RTÉ Sport|publisher=RTÉ Sport|date=17 March 2015|accessdate=17 March 2015}}</ref>
Lane was chosen as the referee for the 2016 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final (drawn game) between Dublin and Mayo;<ref name="ref rte"/><ref name=examiner_20082018/> He was chosen as the referee for the 2018 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final between Dublin and Tyrone, his second All-Ireland final in three years.<ref name=examiner_20082018>{{cite news|url=https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/sport/corks-conor-lane-to-referee-all-ireland-football-final-863400.html|title=Cork's Conor Lane to referee All-Ireland football final|work=Irish Examiner|date=20 August 2018|accessdate=31 August 2018}}</ref>
Lane also took charge of the 2019 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final replay between Dublin and Kerry.<ref name="sky news">{{cite news |last1=Brian |first1=Barry |title=Conor Lane to referee All-Ireland final replay between Dublin and Kerry |url=https://www.skysports.com/gaa/gaelic-football/news/30553/11800716/conor-lane-to-referee-all-ireland-final-replay-between-dublin-and-kerry |publisher=Sky Sports |date=February 9, 2019}}</ref><ref name="ref rte">{{cite news |title=Cork's Conor Lane to referee All-Ireland final replay |url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/gaa/2019/0902/1073340-corks-conor-lane-to-referee-all-ireland-final-replay/ |publisher=RTE |date=September 2, 2019}}</ref><ref name="ref replay final">{{cite news |title=Corkman Conor Lane confirmed as referee for Dublin v Kerry re-match |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/corkman-conor-lane-confirmed-as-referee-for-dublin-v-kerry-re-match-38458717.html |publisher=Independent |date=September 2, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Allison|last=Bray|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/gaa-announce-reduction-in-ticket-prices-for-allireland-final-replay-as-conor-lane-confirmed-as-referee-38458670.html|title=GAA announce reduction in ticket prices for All-Ireland final replay as Conor Lane confirmed as referee|newspaper=Irish Independent|publisher=Independent News & Media|date=2 September 2019|accessdate=2 September 2019}}</ref><ref name=the42_14092019>{{cite news|first=Gavan|last=Casey|url=https://www.the42.ie/dublin-v-kerry-liveblog-2-4809890-Sep2019/|title=As it happened: Dublin v Kerry, All-Ireland SFC Final Replay|work=The42.ie|date=14 September 2019|accessdate=14 September 2019|quote=32MINS 6:33PM · SATURDAY It was actually Michael Fitzsimons who got the tick, not O'Callaghan who did the dragging down. 35MINS 6:42PM In truth, Conor Lane has had a fine game. He's let plenty go, but it has added to the spectacle.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Colm|last=O'Rourke|authorlink=Colm O'Rourke|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/gaelic-games/gaelic-football/colm-orourke-it-was-foolish-to-think-that-it-would-be-any-different-and-it-may-not-change-next-year-either-38498352.html|title=It was foolish to think that it would be any different|work=Sunday Independent|date=15 September 2019|accessdate=15 September 2019}}</ref>
Lane would also referee the 2021 All Ireland semi-final between Mayo and Dublin.
Notable games Conor Lane has officiated in include:
2 All-Ireland Club Football Championship Finals (2016 and 2020)
1 All-Ireland Minor Football Championship Final (2013)
1 Sigerson Cup Final (2017)
3 Connacht Senior Football Championship Finals (2013, 2016 and 2021)
1 Ulster Senior Football Championship Final (2019)
1 Leinster Senior Football Championship Final (2023)
1 Allianz League Division 1 Final (2024)
2 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship semi-finals (2019 and 2021)
5 Cork County Senior Football Championship Finals (2009, 2014, 2017, 2018 and 2020)
His umpires since he made the breakthrough at inter-county level include his father, John Joe Lane (2016 and 2018 finals), DJ O'Sullivan (2016, 2018 and 2019 finals), Pat Kelly (2016, 2018 and 2019 finals), Raymond Hegarty (2016, 2018 and 2019 finals), Kevin Roche (2019 final), Ger Fleming (2013 Minor Final) and Denis Healy.
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lane, Conor}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:All-Ireland Senior Football Championship Final referees Category:Gaelic football referees Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:People from Banteer Category:Sportspeople from County Cork