Referee attacker apologises

THE Ulster Council of the GAA knows the identity of the supporter who struck Cavan referee Martin Brady at the end of Sunday's club football semi-final between Mayobridge and Carrickmore.

The individual concerned, a supporter of Tyrone champions Carrickmore, contacted Ulster Secretary Danny Murphy yesterday to express his regret. Earlier, he phoned the referee to apologise personally.

Mr Murphy confirmed the individual had admitted he was responsible for the assault on the referee.

"We will take a look at that when we examine the referee's report and see how it can be progressed,'' he said.

"We have a scheduled meeting this week and the matter will be discussed. We will then decide how we proceed from there.''

Carrickmore PRO Paddy McElroy said the spectator had "come forward" to the club after the game.

"He expressed his desire to contact the referee," he said, adding that the individual concerned was known to the club.

"It is out of keeping with his character but that is by no means an attempt to condone what he did, which we utterly condemn."

Accepting that the club had to be held accountable for the actions of their supporters, Mr McElroy added the individual had given assurances he would co-operate fully with the Ulster Council investigation.

"When an incident like this happens, we have to accept whatever consequences flow from it in so far as the Association has no option but to make clubs responsible for the actions of those who follow them."

The spectator came onto the Casement Park pitch following Mayobridge's win over Carrickmore and struck Mr Brady in the face. The referee was shaken but not seriously hurt in the incident.

Match stewards intervened to apprehend the spectator but an official said they were forced to release the alleged perpetrator "as there was a real danger that the situation was going to turn nasty".

"The crowd was starting to gather around and there was potential for further trouble so we let him go but our stewards will be able to identify the person in question," the official added.

Carrickmore club officials held an emergency meeting on Sunday night to discuss the matter and then issued a statement that "condemned without reservation any interference with any match official".

The statement said: "No members of our playing squad, none of their mentors nor any of the club's committee was involved".

The Tyrone club lost the game by two points, 2-7 to 0-11.

Fr Seamus Gardiner, spokesman for the National Referees' Association, said they would always be upset to hear of an assault on any referee.

"This game was held under the auspices of the Ulster Council but this kind of action should never be acceptable.''

Meanwhile, Sports Minister John O'Donoghue has refused to be drawn into a debate on Sean Kelly's recent assertion that the Association should get an extra €50m in Government funding if next year's Congress votes in favour of opening Croke Park to soccer and rugby.

The GAA President reportedly said he felt there was a "good chance" such a grant could be made if Rule 42 was relaxed as it would finally solve the stadium crisis facing Ireland's senior international soccer and rugby teams.

If Croke Park is not available to the other codes, Irish rugby and soccer internationals will have to play their home fixtures in the UK for a number of years while Lansdowne Road is being redeveloped.

Kelly, while adding that both the IRFU and FAI would face substantial rental charges for use of HQ, said the Irish economy would take a serious hit if these matches were moved across the Irish Sea. Therefore, he claimed, the €50m grant in question would be virtually self-financing for the Irish taxpayer.

"My initial reaction to that is we have given the GAA over €40m for the development of Croke Park and this money was welcomed broadly across the Association," Mr O'Donoghue said yesterday.

"What happens hereafter [with regard to Croke Park] is obviously a matter for Congress. I will let Congress come to a decision as to whether it is or is not going to happen in relation to Rule 42.

"I am not going to become involved in a debate as to what might or might not happen afterwards. It would be counter-productive. Sean Kelly is the President of the GAA, it's his job to put forward the best case he can for the GAA.

"All I will say is we've paid €40m to the GAA by way of grant aid for Croke Park and we're delighted with the progress which has been made with its development."