​The picture to our right is a memorable one, three men at the peak of their respective powers, two county’s about to do battle in a cauldron of an atmosphere, an age-old rivalry, about to be stoked up once again, and in the middle, a referee charged with the job of ensuring it all went off smoothly. It is a testament to whistle holder that the 1978 All Ireland final has since been billed as an epic contest and one of the great modern finals. But then anyone accustomed to Jimmy Rankins would agree that this would have been typical of the man. 

A keen GAA enthusiast, Jimmy Rankins was one of the founder members of the Ratheniska Hurling Club and the Club’s first ever Treasurer when it was founded in 1953. Jimmy was also a member of the first team to bring silverware to the fledgling club when in 1958 they won the Junior Championship. More titles were to follow for Jimmy, as both a member of Ratheniska Hurling Club and Park GFC. 

However it was through his hurling refereeing that Jimmy was to become a household name throughout the Country. Moving through the ranks as a Club referee, Jimmy soon became recognised by Croke Park and began to officiate Inter-County games. 

Leinster finals, All Ireland semi-finals, All Ireland Minor hurling finals, Railway cup finals, All Ireland Club finals, U/21, Junior and Colleges All Ireland finals were to follow as Jimmy travelled the length and breath of the Country. As always, his trusted umpires, local men Liam Greene, Billy Fitzgerald, and Mick Fingleton, and Portlaoise man, Joe Styles, accompanied Jimmy on his many journeys. 

However the highlight of Jimmy’s refereeing career was to come with his being handed the whistle for the 1978 All Ireland hurling final, between Cork and Kilkenny. It was to be the peak of Jimmy’s refereeing career, and one in which he brought great credit and honour to himself and the Club. 

As a Referee widely acknowledged to be one of the fairest and competent men to ever hold a whistle, Jimmy received acknowledgement of such when he toured San Francisco and Los Angeles with the All Star teams of 1976. 

A wonderful man, accomplished hurler, a widely respected inter-county referee, Jimmy was a dedicated Clubman. This was something that was reflected in his being a vice-president of the Park/Ratheniska GAA Club up until his sad passing in 2001, where, only a week previously he had been at the Club’s AGM, as he had done for many years.