Referee feared for safety

A referee abandoned a county intermediate football championship game eight minutes from the end as he feared for his safety.

Experienced official Jack Stafford claimed he was left with no option but to abandon the game with St Mary’s (Maudlintown) and Realt na Mara level at the time, 2-6 to 3-3.

He said: “If I was to finish that game there was no way I was going to get out without getting a few shots. I had already sent of two St Mary’s players, one on a straight red card, and the second on two yellows followed by a red card. When I awarded the penalty to Realt na Mara, the St Mary’s defender bumped into my chest, leaving me with no option but to brandish a straight red. When I requested his name he told me to eff off.