GAA chiefs to probe unsavoury scenes
Referee Cormac Reilly and his officials were forced to sprint towards the dressing rooms following the full time whistle as angry Mayo fans swarmed onto the field.
Gardaí were forced to intervene and physically restrain a number of supporters who attempted to confront the Meath official. In the closing minutes of the game, a disgruntled Mayo supporter came onto the pitch but was quickly marshalled back by five stewards security officials.
Despite the controversy, Limerick GAA officials have expressed satisfaction with their hosting of the game. Just over 36,000 attended the extra-time epic and Limerick secretary Mike O’Riordan heaped praise on all of those involved in readying the venue during a six day turnaround from the drawn game at Croke Park.
Fears over travel chaos and associated issues proved unfounded as the event ran with clockwork precision. O’Riordan said: “It went very well, the pitch was in great order, traffic went well and the feedback from both counties was very positive. “In the short term I can’t ever see an All-Ireland semi-final being taken out of Croke Park, but I think that Saturday night showed that provincial venues are well capable of playing host to these type of games when called upon.
“Great credit is due to Croke Park, the Munster Council, Limerick GAA clubs and volunteers, local gardaí, city council and the local residents for everything they did to make Saturday the spectacle that it was.” Of the controversial late scenes, O’Riordan said: “Naturally you hate to see some of those type of incidents which were outside of our control. But those in place reacted in the way they were supposed to. All our protocols worked in according to planning,” O’Riordan. “That was due to the good work of stewards, gardaí and the GAA’s Frontline Security officials who were in place for the game.”
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