Cork clash goes up in smoke
But in North Cork on Sunday, a gorse fire forced the premature conclusion to a divisional JHL game between Kildorrery and Doneraile.
With the game delicately balanced in favour of Kildorrery — they were leading by a point — the wind whipped up the fire, which started in an adjoining field, causing smoke to drift onto the pitch.
Doneraile secretary Trevor O’Flynn was at the match. “There were some furze bushes at the back of the pitch and someone put a match to them. Given the dry weather we’ve had they caught fire quickly.
“But we could see from the pitch it wasn’t anything to get alarmed about.
“It was an ordinary run-of-the-mill divisional league match and everything was going fine until late in the game.
“Kildorrery were in front by a point but the smoke from the fire began drift into the playing field and became so bad that the referee was left with no option but to abandon the game.
“There was never any danger to the players but the smoke became very dense and they couldn’t see the sliotar.”
“There is no truth to the suggestion that it was a Doneraile supporter who started the fire because we were behind in the game! Credit to the home club — they tackled the problem straight away. It was a fairly long ditch and could have gotten out of hand if it was left unattended.”
