Board awaits ref’s report on fracas

WATERFORD County Board are remaining tight-lipped as to what action they will take following the ill-tempered SHC semi-final between Ballygunner and Lismore on Saturday night.

Four players were dismissed during the game and referee Michael Wadding was attacked in the aftermath. Board officials are awaiting the referee’s report before taking further action.

“The whole matter is sub judice at this point in time, and it would be inappropriate, to say the very least, for anyone in officialdom to make public comment,” county secretary Seamas Grant said.

The four players were sent off in an explosive last quarter, with Lismore reduced to a dozen players following the dismissal of goalkeeper Brendan Landers and midfielder Michael Walsh, both on straight red cards, and corner back Michael O’Sullivan for a second yellow card.

Ballygunner’s Paul Flynn, who scored 1-8 while on the field, was also sent off after the same incident that saw Landers and Walsh dismissed.

The intervention of gardaí defused what could have become an even more serious situation, and they remained on duty inside the ground for some considerable time after the game.

It is expected that Michael Wadding will not delay unduly in submitting his report, and the board is expected to deal with the matter as soon as possible.

Crucially, Paul Flynn is now ruled out of Sunday week’s county final against arch-rivals and champions Mount Sion.

The latter would have been favourites to complete a hat-trick of title wins even with Flynn included in Ballygunner’s line-up, but in his absence the champions will be odds on to retain their crown.

However, Mount Sion manager, Jim Greene doesn’t see things that way and said his team were not underestimating the Ballygunner threat.

“We certainly won’t be taking anything for granted just because Paul Flynn won’t be a part of the Gunners lineout,” Greene said.

“They will be a very formidable opposition and will be treated as such by us.”