Cork GAA chairman expresses disappointment at comments made by Bride Rovers supporters 

FULL APOLOGY ISSUED: Bride Rovers apologised to Marc Sheehan, Cork GAA chairman. File pic: Gerard McCarthy 

Cork GAA chairman Marc Sheehan has expressed disappointment at comments made toward him by Bride Rovers supporters during last month’s replayed Cork SAHC semi-final.

Sheehan addressed the verbal attack during an in-camera section at the end of Tuesday evening’s Cork county board meeting. The meeting had been running for over three hours when members of the media were asked to leave the room for an unexplained item.

Sheehan, a primary school principal, told delegates he was addressing the incident for personal and professional reasons. He noted how an apology had been received from the Bride Rovers club earlier on Tuesday.

The incident occurred during last month's Blarney-Bride Rovers Senior A hurling semi-final refixture. The semi-final had to be replayed following a successful Blarney appeal against a 16th Bride Rovers player on the pitch during extra-time in the first game — which was won by Bride Rovers after a penalty shootout.

After winning their appeal against the result, Blarney then went and won the refixture, much to the frustration of the Bride Rovers club.

That frustration allegedly spilled over into an ugly confrontation in the Ard Comhairle section of Páirc Uí Chaoimh during the replayed game between supporters associated with the Bride Rovers club and Cork chairman Sheehan, who was sitting with competition sponsors, Co-Op Superstores, watching the game.

As board chair, Sheehan had been part of the CCC decision to award Blarney a refixture.

Eye-witnesses spoke of foul and abusive language towards Sheehan who was said to be visibly shaken by the incident.