War of words erupts in Wicklow GAA after match abandoned amid race row

A WAR of words has erupted in Wicklow after a senior league division 1 match between Rathnew and Tinahely was abandoned amid allegations that a Rathnew player was racially abused. The source of the abuse remains unclear.

The sides met on Sunday in what was the opening round of league action in the county, but the game was abandoned after just 16 minutes by referee Pat Dunne.

The Hollywood official is understood to have shown two red cards and a handful of yellows before a coming-together between players from both sides saw Dunne abandon the fixture.

Dunne was the sole match official at the venue.

A tweet from the Rathnew club’s

Twitter account claimed: “Ref Pat Dunne calls a Holt (sic) to the match after what he says to our chairman racial abuse to 1 of our players.”

This claim was repeated by a senior Rathnew official when contacted yesterday. Dunne could not be contacted for comment.

The Tinahely club denied any links to the accusations in the strongest possible terms.

Upon learning of the allegations, the club called a meeting on Sunday evening, with players and officials present.

“We had a club meeting on Sunday after the match with the executives from our club and players, and I can 100 per cent tell you we made no racial comments to anyone,” Tinahely club chairman Patrick Murphy told the

Irish Independent. “We completely condemn racial abuse.”

The chairman of Wicklow GAA, Martin Fitzgerald, stated that he was aware that the match had been abandoned and that the matter was now with the county’s CCC (Competitions Control Committee).

He said: “The referee’s report is in and the CCC will be dealing with it. Until that, we can’t make any further comment.”