Officials meet after Laois brawl

LAOIS officials met last night to discuss their response to Saturday’s disgraceful scenes at an U21 championship semi-final replay in which a player was knocked unconscious.

St Joseph’s/Barrowhouse’s Paddy Fleming was the player in question. The full-back lost consciousness temporarily when an ugly brawl broke out with less than 10 minutes remaining and Portlaoise leading by nine points to five. The game was subsequently abandoned.

Fleming subsequently came to on the pitch but was taken to Portlaoise General Hospital by ambulance for examination and was released later that night.