ROUND-UP Uproar after injury

GAA Bunclody player’s jaw broken off ball

HWH-BUNCLODY have requested that an investigation be launched into an incident that left one of their players with his jaw bone broken in two places.

The north Wexford club played in an Ashdown Park/Amber Springs Hotels Intermediate football championship game against St. Mary’s (Rosslare) at Bellefield on Saturday, winning by six points.

Their midfielder, Bryan O’Hara, was on the receiving end of a vicious off the ball assault in the course of the game that not alone brought a premature end to his participation in the game, but led to his removal to hospital for treatment.

No action was taken by match referee Eric Molloy, despite the seriousness of the incident which left the player in agony on the ground. Incidentally, during the course of the game, the St. James’ referee chose to dismiss a HWH-Bunclody player, Kevin Dunne, for verbal abuse.

Following his removal to hospital, O’Hara underwent 16 hours of medical treatment, having had two plates inserted into his broken jaw. He was detained in hospital overnight before being released on Monday.

Now, O’Hara’s club colleagues have requested a full County Board investigation into the incident, which has left his family and friends shocked at the severity of his injuries.

Club Secretary, James Doyle, confirmed the club’s stance on Monday morning.

‘We have submitted a letter this morning (Monday) to Wexford G.A.A. Board seeking a full investigation into the incident. We will now await a response before commenting further on the matter.

‘The injured player was released from hospital on Monday and was collected by his brother having received medical treatment,’ he said.

County Chairman, Diarmuid Devereux, said the fact that the club has asked for a full investigation ensured the Board would deal with the matter.

He stressed that the County Board take any incident where a player is grievously injured very seriously.

The letter will now be handed over to the Disciplinary committee who will give the matter every consideration, he added.