Blessington mentor left needing stitches after incident

BLESSINGTON GAA mentor Kevin Dooley was left with a wounded upper lip that required stitches, following unsavoury scenes that bookended the team’s Minor ‘A’ football championship semi-final win over Rathnew on Monday evening.

At the end of a thoroughly engaging contest, tempers boiled over as some attendees at the game appeared to become involved in a post-match argument, with Kevin Dooley being allegedly struck by an unknown perpetrator.

It is also understood that Blessington Minor football manager Eoin Phibbs received a blow in the incident.

The incident began shortly following the final whistle, when words were exchanged between members of both teams. The situation concerning the two parties was settled without much in the way of trouble.

The issues only escalated from there, however, as some attendees of the game appeared to become embroiled in further arguments at the end of the pitch nearest the car park. At some point, Dooley was allegedly hit, although it is not known by whom.

The strike left Dooley with a split upper lip before the incident was eventually defused. Supporters left the pitchside area while, first, the Rathnew team and coaching staff left the ground. A short time later, the Blessington contingent, who stayed at the far end of the pitch and waited to leave until after their opponents had, so as to avoid any further potential inciting incidents, followed suit.

Blessington won the game by a point and have set up an all-west Minor football championship final against St Nicholas who defeated Éire Óg Greystones in the second semi-final played in Avondale on Monday night.

Bray Emmets will take on AGB in the ‘B’ decider after two quality performances while Michael Dwyers will take on Michael Hogan in the ‘C’ final.