Minor hurling game ends in major brawl

May 1976

A minor hurling championship game between [CLUB NAMES WITHELD] at Bellefield on Sunday was abandoned near the end as spectators and officials were involved in a major brawl in which hurleys, flagsticks, and at least one bottle was used.

Rathnure were well in front at the time, by 5-11 to 4-3, having led at half time by 3-5 to 2-3. It must be stated that none of the players were involved in the disgraceful scenes which erupted with little over a minute to go, and they shook hands with each other at the end.

The scenes resembled something like a news report from Northern Ireland rather than an underage hurling match, as the spectators and officials laid into each other. They should have taken a lesson from the younger players, all of whom behaved like spokesmen.

The trouble ignited just before the end when referee Noel Matthews had to sideline two [ TEAM 1] players after a couple of incidents in what was otherwise a highly entertaining game.

It seems one of them was accosted by a [ TEAM 2] supporter or official as he made his way off the field, a [ TEAM 1] official responded, and all hell then broke loose.

An estimated three dozen people were involved in the brawl at its height, and this reporter saw at least six of them swing hurleys at other people. I also witnessed one man swing a glass bottle at another, thankfully striking him across the back of the shoulder rather than the back of the head.

Such scenes have no place on our gaelic fields and it remains to now be seen what action the County Board will take against the two clubs involved in Sunday’s melee.