Ugly scenes tarnish Rangers’ victory

Mount Leinster Rangers (Carlow) 1-15 Castletown-Geoghegan (Westmeath) 1-13

In the final seconds, with Castletown attempting to score a late goal, a player from each side was tussling for possession near the sideline when referee Fergus Smith blew the final whistle.

A major ugly row erupted involving players from both sides which spilled over the sideline into one of the dugouts. When the maul, which lasted almost a minute, died down, Smith surprisingly decided to take no further action, despite many punches being landed.

Carlow champions Mount Leinster Rangers trailed 0-5 to 1-7 at half time but turned on the style in the opening minutes of the second-half, scoring 1-2 in the first four minutes, with Edward Byrne scoring 1-1 and Denis Murphy a point. The game was dominated by the free taking of Denis Murphy and Niall O’Brien for their respective sides throughout.

In the dying seconds, as Castletown pushed for an equaliser, Ronan Whelan was dispossessed and Gary Kelly sent over the crucial point for the Carlow side.

Scorers for Mount Leinster Rangers: D Murphy (0-9, 0-8fs), E Byrne (1-1), D Byrne (0-2), J Coady, D Phelan, G Kelly (0-1 each).

Scorers for Castletown-Geoghegan: N O’Brien (0-10, 0-8fs), A Mangan (1-0), R Whelan, A Clarke, D Fennell (0-1 each).

MT LEINSTER RANGERS: F Foley; M Doyle, G Doyle, G Kelly; Diarmuid Byrne, R Coady, B Nolan; E Coady, P Nolan; P Coady, E Byrne, D Phelan (c), D Murphy, J Coady, HP O’Byrne.

Subs: E Doyle for P Coady (ht), Derek Byrne on P Nolan (35), W Hickey for H P O’Byrne (46), J Murphy for J Coady (51).

CASTLETOWN-GEOGHEGAN: P Maloney; P Fennell, E Dalton, E Óg Clarke; L Varley, R Whelan, D McDermott; D Fennell, B Lehart; A Clarke, N O’Brien, D Lynch, N Kirby, A Mangan, K Glennon.

Subs: D Garvin for P Fennell (41), S Clavin for B Lehart (46), P Clarke for A Mangan (51), D Gallagher for K Glennon (54), C O’Brien for E Óg Clarke (57).

Referee: Fergus Smith (Meath).