Gardaí to probe ‘frightening’ pitch brawl
Kerry’s Dromid Pearses manager Michael Anthony O’Connell claimed his family were put in danger when Derrytresk supporters from Tyrone leaped over the seating to join a fight on the field.
“It was frightening stuff. My wife was sitting in the stand with our two children, Senan (9) and Muireann (6),” he said.
“When the melee started, she pushed the two of them underneath seats and tried to protect them as the Derrytresk supporters were jumping over them to get onto the field.”
The GAA will wait for Leitrim referee Francis Flynn’s report before deciding whether to start an investigate the matter. Any video footage will need to be unedited to be used in any potential inquiry.
However Laois County Board chairman Brian Allen described the level of aggression towards the stewards as “unprecedented”.
Mr Allen described the situation as “impossible” to police during a brawl that broke out before half-time: “Thankfully none of our stewards received any injury but the verbal abuse they got was very serious.
“There was a good few that were fairly shaken after it. I was at the game and it was impossible to police what went on before half-time.”
Inter-county player Darran O’Sullivan tweeted: “Listening to radio one about the scenes in the Dromid game. So what I was told was true, disgraceful scenes. Not good for football.”
The Kerry footballer found himself under fire from an Ulster tweeter, who accused him of “whinging”.
The forward responded: “Look it’s on the radio that they were disgraceful scenes so I’m not the only one.
“I also said the better team won.”
Columnist Michael Clifford brought two young relatives to the match. Writing in today’s newspaper, he says: “What they witnessed would not encourage any parent to persist in attempting to instil interest in Gaelic football.”
* Watch the brawl at http://exa.mn/fight
