DAMIEN MacGRAITH will be one of the two assistants for the UEFA U-21 Championships Final between Spain and Switzerland in Denmark on Saturday.

Mayo native MacGraith is one of the most highly respected assistants in the Airtricity League and he will work in a team led by Italian official Paulo Tagliavento in the final of the prestigious tournament in the Aarhus Stadium showpiece game.

MacGraith is a secondary school teacher at Scoil Mhuire agús Padraig in his native Mayo. He has risen to prominence since his graduation from the FAI's Referee School of Excellence in 2005 and has officiated at a number of high profile appointments including the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and most recently in the EURO 2012 qualifiers where McGraith was part of the Irish delegation who took charge of the Group F clash between Latvia and Israel in Riga earlier this month.

“It is great to see Damien’s hard work and dedication being recognized by UEFA with the appointments he has received in this major tournament,” said FAI National Referee Coordinator James Finnegan. 

“It is also a testament to the help and support given to Damien from his start in local Mayo football,  the Referee Observers and Tutors at all levels who have helped guide and advise him as part of his ongoing coaching, and of course his friends and colleagues at the Elite level. Damien’s success also shows the opportunities that may be available  to anyone interested and committed to refereeing as part of the FAI Referee Development Plan.”

The FAI's Referee School of Excellence has played a huge part in the development of Irish officials in recent years with a number of our officials being appointed to UEFA Championships qualifying matches and Europa League and Champions League games in recent years.

“Everybody involved in the League is delighted to hear of Damien’s appointment to such a prestigious game,” said Airtricity League director Fran Gavin.

“It is testament to the professionalism of the refereeing system we have in this country and it shows that there is a pathway to the highest in that side of the game as well as the playing side.”