Munster Council to probe unruly scenes

THE Munster Council last night confirmed they will investigate unruly scenes which marred Sunday’s provincial club junior football championship semi-final at Austin Stack Park, Tralee.

Castlegregory of Kerry beat Cork side Glanworth 1-10 to 1-6, but ugly scenes developed as both teams made their way to the dressing rooms at the break.

Players from the two sides quickly joined the melee and a spectator was allegedly hit by a water bottle in the course of the row.

When the game restarted referee Keith O’Brien issued red cards to Castlegregory’s Colm O’Connor and Michael O’Shea along with Glanworth duo Tommy Pierce and Sean O’Keeffe.

Yesterday Munster Council PRO Jim Forbes said administrators were awaiting the referee’s report and the appropriate steps would be taken then.

“When we have the report we’ll see what needs to be done at that point,” said Forbes. Castlegregory face Mountcollins (Limerick) in the Munster final on December 13.

Meanwhile, Munster Council chairman Jimmy O’Gorman yesterday ended speculation concerning the chairmanship of the Waterford County Board by confirming he will not be a candidate for the top post at next week’s convention in Dungarvan.

That clears the way for Stradbally’s Tom Cunningham to succeed Pat Flynn who has completed his term. Cunningham, the present vice chairman, will become the first member of his club to be elected chairman.

“It will be an immense honour for both myself and my club. It will be a huge challenge to take over from a man of the calibre of Pat Flynn,” Cunningham, said.

O’Gorman said he had only decided not to let his name go forward after careful consideration.

He said: “Obviously I am honoured to have been nominated, but as I will not be completing my three-year term as Munster Council chairman until next February, and will then be an ex officio member of the Council for another 12 months, I have decided not to seek the Waterford chairmanship at this time. My thanks to those who had indicated support for my candidature, but I certainly am not ruling out the possibility of contesting the chairmanship at some point down the line.’’

There will however be at least two convention contests, with outgoing Munster Council delegates Paddy Joe Ryan and Tommy Hennessy set to go head to head to succeed the long serving Seamas O’Brien, who is in his final year as Central Council representative.

There will also be a contest for the vice chair which is being vacated by Tom Cunningham, with the present East Divisional Board secretary Tim O’Byrne and Ballyduff Lower’s John O’Leary the contenders.

O’Leary, who served as county secretary for a year following the death of Seamas Grant, will be marginally favoured to win the contest. Meantime the West Divisional Board convention takes place in Dungarvan tomorrow night when all of the outgoing officers will be returned unopposed.

Both the long serving chairman and secretary, Paddy Walsh and Anthony Walsh respectively, will however be entering their final year in office and must step aside under rule in 12 months time.