Loughrea vindicated: coach

LOUGHREA senior hurling manager Pat O’Connor last night expressed his satisfaction at the outcome of the Galway County Board investigation into incidents of alleged foul play in the recent county final, in which they dethroned reigning Galway and All-Ireland club champions Portumna.

The day after a torrid encounter, accusations emerged of alleged deliberate foul play on a number of Portumna players, but specifically on teenage star Joe Canning.

O’Connor then made a statement to this newspaper angrily refuting those allegations.

In light of the findings of the county board, — one Loughrea player was suspended, for four weeks, for striking with the fist; one Portumna player suspended for 12 weeks for striking with the hurley; two Portumna officials suspended for 12 weeks each for media comments — he now feels he and his players have been vindicated.

“I want to repeat my disappointment at the way our players were maligned in certain sections of the media immediately after the game. Despite impressions given to the contrary, it wasn’t a bloodbath, it wasn’t a riot, it wasn’t a deliberate targeting of certain players by Loughrea.

“There was one photograph used to suggest that it was, a photo of a boot that seemed to be poised over Joe Canning as he lay on the ground, but that was deceptive, that boot was yards away from the player. “In those circumstances one photo won’t always tell the full picture and I can assure you that despite the claims made, there were no stitches as a result of a stamping incident, because there was no stamping incident.

“It was a hard match, deliberately so — we weren’t going to engage in another high-scoring contest with Portumna, having been beaten in the final by six points last year, despite scoring 3-16 — but it was fair.

“I would also like to point out that as a result of this county final we have three players out injured for our next match, one with a broken hand, another with a broken finger, the third with a dislocated shoulder, but we made no complaints about that at the time, and we make none now.

“When the game was over there was no suggestion from anyone that all this controversy was about to break, certainly not from the Portumna players themselves, most of whom — including Joe Canning — waited out on the pitch for nearly 15 minutes for the presentation of the cup, while the Loughrea celebrations went on.

“Those celebrations have since been soured by these outrageous and false allegations of deliberate foul play by Loughrea. In light of the findings of the last night, which were made after reviewing all the evidence, including the video of the match, I hope those who made those allegations will now retract them.

“I hope that this finding, which we fully accept, will now see an end to this business. This was a great achievement for the club, we now want to go on to represent Galway in the All-Ireland club championship with the same pride — and success — as so many other clubs have done down the years, including Portumna last year.”