Clare GAA chairman condemns incident after referee injured following U15 game

Video footage following the end of the fixture between Kilrush-Killimer and Lissycasey shows referee John O'Connell in distress on the ground after a fracas.

Clare GAA chairman Kieran Keating: "There were many witnesses to the incident and we sincerely thank those who came to his immediate assistance at the time.”

Clare chairman Kieran Keating has condemned the altercation that led to referee John O’Connell suffering injuries after he took charge of an U15 football game in Kilrush on Monday evening.

Video footage following the end of the fixture between Kilrush-Killimer and Lissycasey shows the match official in distress on the ground following a fracas.

An Garda Síochána are investigating claims of an assault on O’Connell and Clare FM are reporting a male youth also sustained injuries in a separate incident.

In a statement released to the Irish Examiner, Keating wrote: “It was with profound shock and disappointment that we learned of the altercation that occurred at the conclusion of the above underage fixture last evening.

“We have a great cohort of referees in both codes in our county and over the past number of years we have driven the message of ‘Respect for the Referee’, with the aim of retaining and recruiting the increasing number of referees we need for our growing schedule of games.

“Thus, it is a bitter step backwards when any mentor, player, parent or supporter commits any infraction upon a referee, and particularly a physical assault of the nature reported upon in this case.

“We have had many years without any such incident and it is very disheartening to all of us who love our games that this would happen at an underage game, or any game, in Clare in 2026.

“Whilst we await the formal report on the game and the incident, we have been in contact with our referee John O’Connell and will assist him in dealing with the matter. There were many witnesses to the incident and we sincerely thank those who came to his immediate assistance at the time.”

Keating intimated there will be serious repercussions for any GAA member found to have assaulted O’Connell. 

“I will be careful here to not prejudice the outcome of the disciplinary process that will swiftly follow the receipt of his report, but I can point to the minimum sanction laid out under Rule 7.2.c of the rulebook: Category Va - Any type of assault on a Referee, a Score Umpire, Line Umpire or Sideline Official: Penalties: (1) Minimum: 96 weeks Suspension, with offender’s Team liable to Disqualification, where appropriate.’ 

“And I would further note that such minimum sanction is automatically doubled for an underage game. Those sanctions are harsh and regimented and are so designed to protect our referees and our games, and reflect the utter despondency that we all feel towards any actions of this nature.

“We wish John a speedy recovery.”