Donegal officials to investigate McLoone incident

The Donegal Competitions Control Committee are poised to launch a full investigation into an incident in a club match which left Leo McLoone with a double fracture of his eye socket.

McLoone was allegedly struck from behind in a post-match brawl following his Naomh Conaill side's one-point Senior Championship defeat to Glenswilly on Sunday.

Witnesses have said that a player from Naomh Conaill and a mentor from Glenswilly clashed in the middle of the pitch following referee Seamus McGonigle's final whistle. A second disturbance then broke out some yards out.

Upwards of 50 people, including players and mentors, are said to have been involved in the mass melee.

McLoone, who was used as a substitute in Donegal's Ulster SFC semi-final win over Tyrone, will now miss the provincial decider against Derry on Sunday, July 17.

The 21-year-old defender, who scored a late goal in Sunday's game, was rushed to hospital for surgery afterwards. Donegal GAA officials are awaiting the referee's report, with County Board Secretary Aodh Máirtín Ó Fearraigh promising a 'thorough investigation'.

Donegal manager Jim McGuinness, who was present at the match, was understandably disappointed by what he saw. Especially as he had asked the County Board to postpone club matches until after the Ulster final and Rory Kavanagh and Kevin Rafferty have also picked up knocks.

"It's very disappointing not to have Leo because he has worked tremendously hard, but we have to move forward because we haven't got the time frame to dwell on it really - two weeks," he told the Irish Examiner.

"Without dwelling on it too much, we were very disappointed with some of the decisions that were made (by the County Board). We were told that their hands were tied and nothing could be done then subsequently their hands weren't tied.

"The issue was made since that there was not enough weekends in the calendar. What wasn't highlighted was that we offered to play games after the Antrim match on Wednesday nights and weekends, which would have freed up four weekends.

"We sent an email to the CCC in relation to that and that email was never circulated to the clubs for consultation and that process never happened.

"Now we're in a situation where we’re squeezed for weekends and the county management came forward with a proposal, so it's hard to take when that’s being put forward as a defence.

"Hopefully we can draw a line under it now and look forward to the Ulster final because it's 19 years since we won it. It's a huge game for this group of players and Donegal."