Man arrested following 'unsavoury' scenes after Ballyhale beat Kilcormac-Killoughey

Kilcormac-Killoughey manager Declan Laffan expects that an investigation will take place.

Sun, 09 Nov, 2025 - 19:34

John Fogarty

Opposing managers Henry Shefflin and Declan Laffan were quick to condemn the ugly incidents that marred the end of an otherwise entertaining Leinster Club SHC quarter-final.

A Kilcormac-Killoughey supporter attempted to throw punches at a Ballyhale Shamrocks player after the full-time whistle when Adrian Mullen was tackled. The fan had to be restrained by a player of his own team.

An Gardaí Síochána confirmed they have arrested an individual involved in an altercation at the venue.

Their statement read: “Gardaí have arrested a man (aged in his 40’s) following a public order incident at a Kilkenny sports ground this afternoon, Sunday 9th November 2025.

"He has since been charged, and is scheduled to appear before the courts at a later date. As this is now before the courts, there is no further information available at this time. Investigations are ongoing.”

“It was unsavoury,” said Shefflin. “We absolutely don’t condone it. I'm disappointed we were involved in such a situation because the match was over. We didn't need to. So, I'm disappointed in the scene, to be fair, to get dragged into something like that.

“That's the emotion I have here, which is not right, because I said I knew coming into this game we were going to be up against it and I was very wary of it.”

Shefflin, who commiserated with the Kilcormac-Killoughey players and managers in their dressing room afterwards, continued: “It's not right because I see my own kids and stuff and they're running down towards them. I'm like, ‘What is going on here? It's out of control and there's no place for it whatsoever in the game. So look, we all agree on that. I think they're a fabulous hurling team and we like to play hurling the right way as well. So, it's disappointing that that's what we’re going to be talking about.”

Laffan echoed Shefflin’s sentiments. “Look, there was no call for it. It was coming up towards the end, I don't know what really... I know the tackle obviously instigated it, but probably a lot of frustration and somebody came in out of the crowd and nobody wants to see that.

“Whatever happens on the field, whether players are going out or whatever, leave them at it and let that be it and it'll finish, it'll play itself out. But look, I suppose frustration split over, but unfortunately we can't control everybody.”

Laffan expects an investigation will take place but said the incidents did not reflect Kilcormac-Killoughey. “Yeah, more than likely. Look, I suppose anything comes out of the crowd and hits another player, it's not a good look.

“But the one thing I'd say, for KK's point of view, that's not them as a club. And it's about the same for Ballyhale, nobody takes any kind of solace in what went on there. And it's not a true representation of both clubs and unfortunately it just happened and we have to move on.”