Con Hogan: Stopping pitch invasion would have been dangerous

The chairman of the Semple Stadium committee, Con Hogan, insists it would have been dangerous to stop Limerick supporters from flooding onto the sideline in the closing stages of Saturday’s All-Ireland U21 hurling final.

By the 58th minute of the contest Limerick fans occupied every blade of grass on either sideline at Semple Stadium, forcing match stewards and gardaí inside the whitewash in a bid to keep fans from encroaching on the pitch.

The several gates dotted along the fence in front of the Kinane Stand were opened by match stewards when the “push” came on from Limerick supporters in the closing minutes and Hogan believes there could have been a health and safety risk had stewards attempted to restrain people from making their way onto either sideline.