U-21 hurling championship game abandoned after spectators enter pitch to join melee

Charleville 0-10 Douglas 0-6

THIS County Premier U-21 Hurling championship Round 4 was played in Fermoy on Saturday in constant rain and heavy conditions. The game was keenly contested with both sides being reduced to 14 players.

An incident occurred in the 42nd minute where a number of players got involved in a serious fight along by the fencing in front of the stand. Some supporters in the stand jumped over the railing and got involved in a nasty fight with some players. Referee Pa O’Driscoll abandoned the game.

Exchanges were close all through with Charleville holding a slight edge with Darragh Fitzgibbon outstanding. Fitzgibbon opened the scoring with a lst minute pointed free after he had been fouled. Fitzgibbon added a point from play. Douglas had their opening score in the seventh minute when Diarmuid O’Mahony pointed a free. Charleville were off target soon after before the impressive Shane Kingston levelled at 0-2 each after 8 minutes. A good movement by Finbarr Cagney to Aaron O’Connor was intercepted and cleared by

Luke McGrath. Good play by Finbarr Cagney led to a foul on Darren Casey with Darragh Fitzgibbon giving the Avondhu side the lead from the free. Charleville set up another good attack involving Darragh Fitzgibbon, Cathal Carroll and Jack Doyle that was cleared by Donncha Murphy. The sides were level in the 17th minute when Shane Kingston pointed. Charleville did well from here on. They had a very good point by Aaron O’Connor with Diarmuid O’Mahony replying from a free. Good play by Ciaran Sheehan led to a great Darren Casey point. In the 22nd minute Sean Buckley worked well for Casey who struck his second point.

Douglas were reduced to 14 men in the 23rd minute when Diarmuid O’Mahony was red carded. Two minutes later a foul on Conor Buckley led to another pointed free by Darragh Fitzgibbon that opened up a 3 point lead. Both sides were off target before Shane Kingston with a long range point cut the lead at the break 0-7 to 0-5. Throughout the first half Douglas had 4 wides while the Rathluirc has three.

Darragh Fitzgibbon had two early points (one from a free) on the resumption. Shane Kingston pointed for Douglas in the 38th minute. Darragh Fitzgibbon received a red card soon after. Sean Buckley followed with a very good point for the North Cork side.

In the 42nd minute the melee took place which resulted in the termination of the game.