ANTRIM GAA has lost one of its great characters following the passing of referee and O’Donnell’s clubman Paul ‘Morph’ Hughes.
The 51-year-old father-of-two was admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital on March 5 after suffering a massive stroke and passed away on St Patrick’s Day.
Former Antrim senior manager Frank Fitzsimons, who is best friends with Paul’s brother Pat, said his loss will be keenly felt throughout GAA circles in the county.
“Paul was a joker, salt of the earth,” said Fitzsimons.
“Now, I know people say that when someone passes away but it was true of ‘Morph’. When the referee throws the ball in he gets called all the names of the day but everybody liked ‘Morph’.”
A man who didn’t take life or the whistle too seriously, he once sent off Lamh Dhearg goalkeeper John Finucane and later boasted, he’d “just sent the Lord Mayor off!’
Antrim senior footballer Patrick McBride always loved to see 'Morph' turn up to referee St John’s matches “because you knew you were going to have good craic”.
“Every match he refereed, even if you lost a game, you left the match having good craic because of him.
“'Morph' would have tortured me on a pitch. Whenever you would go up to take the coin toss at the start of the match he would say: ‘McBride, I’m giving you nothing today!’
“I used to wind him up too. The whole game was more enjoyable when you saw him. You’d be thinking: ‘We have ‘Morph’ today, this will be good craic.’”
McBride recalls one afternoon when the O’Donnell’s man pretended to walk off the pitch because the St John’s players arrived late.
“He pretended to abandon the game just to wind our manager up. Our players were asking: ‘Is the match really off?’ And ‘Morph’ turned around and said: ‘I’m only winding you all up!’
“He was always honest with you on a pitch too and I think players respected that. He was a good referee. I always enjoyed his company even outside of refereeing because I’d be friends with his brother, Pat.”
A painter and decorator by trade, ‘Morph’ will be laid to rest in his referee's kit after requiem mass at St John's chapel (10am).
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Speaking to The Irish News earlier this week, his brother Pat said he “adored” his two kids.
"He never drank or smoked. He was a joker, full of life and was good craic.
"He loved his kids. That is what he will be remembered for. He adored them.
"He was a dedicated O'Donnell's man and he was a dedicated Gael.
"He was a big part of our lives and a big part of the O'Donnell's and Antrim family."
The Antrim County Board also paid its respects to one of their most loyal Gaels.
“Paul was one the dynamos of O’ Donnells GAC. He was involved in all aspects of the club from his playing days, to sitting on club committee and taking on a referee role within the county.
“His enthusiasm, work ethic and humour will be sadly missed by the Gaels of Antrim. Ar a Dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.
