Drogs chief vows to ban troublemakers
There were three separate pitch invasions during the second half of the 2-2 draw, with Agnew claiming some fans were “fighting among themselves”.
Gardaí also had to lead the players off the pitch at full time.
The first encroachment came when Sligo midfielder Ross Gaynor, who had previously played for Drogheda, was sent off by referee Anthony Buttimer for inciting the away support when Rovers striker Anthony Elding made it 1-1 in the 66th minute.
There was another invasion when Sligo made it 2-1 in the final minute, while the worst was to come at full-time after Drogheda’s Graham Rusk earned a 95th-minute point for the visitors.
“It’s the worst I’ve ever seen from our supporters or any other supporters.
“I’m not even comfortable using the word support because they don’t represent our club,” Agnew said.
“You wouldn’t want anybody to witness scenes like that. It was truly shocking. These ‘nutjobs’ drive people away from football and our club, and it must stop here. These people were out to generate trouble well before kick off.
“I wouldn’t have objected if batons were used, that’s my own emotional feeling. I think the better answer is to get these people away from football altogether.
“We will help the FAI by getting them away from football.
“We’ve obtained pictures from a number of photographers and we have identified most of the culprits by name. Several of those will be excluded from our games for as long as I’m involved.
“This is far from the first time a number of them will be involved. They will be banned for life, certainly.”
Speaking to LMFM yesterday evening, he added of Gaynor: “Ross has a bit of a history with Drogheda and some of the supporters think he deserves dogs abuse. There were claims of various things being said to him.
“He was instrumental in the goal and made a two-fisted gesture to the crowd, there was nothing obscene and certain people thought that was enough for them to attack him on the pitch.
“I think the player was very harshly treated by being sent off, he might have only been booked. In my personal view he didn’t deserve to be sent off.”
Meanwhile, Limerick boss Stuart Taylor admitted he was “lost and baffled” by referee Neil Doyle’s failure to award his side a penalty in Saturday’s scoreless draw with Shelbourne at Thomond Park.
Limerick, targeting their third consecutive win, shared the spoils with Shels, who were reduced to 10 men after Robert Bayly was sent off for a lunge on Craig Curran in the eighth minute. The main talking point arrived with 12 minutes remaining when Danny Galbraith went down under a challenge from Sean Brennan inside the area.
But referee Doyle booked Galbraith for diving and a few minutes later Limerick goalkeeping coach Eddie Hickey was sent from the bench for protesting the decision.
“Why was it not given, there was contact?” he asked.
“I’m lost and baffled. To be told after the game that there was contact. It’s a difficult one to take because we work on our game to go and get Danny on the ball.”
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