Gardaí investigate assault on referee

GAELIC GAMES:GARDAÍ IN Monaghan are continuing investigations into what has been described by witnesses as a "vicious" assault on a Gaelic football referee during a minor football match between teams from two neighbouring clubs from the north of the county – Scotstown and Truagh.

A number of spectators tried to restore order, but the injured referee was forced to abandon the match, following the incident.

According to one source: “A man suddenly rushed forward and struck the referee a vicious blow. It all happened in a minute . . . it was a serious incident.”

Yesterday, a Monaghan GAA spokesman said “no statement” was available, but added the matter “is under investigation”.

Offaly hurler James Rigney has been left devastated by a fresh injury blow that looks set to rule him out of the county’s entire championship campaign. The 25-year-old Kinnitty defender cracked his left arm in a training match last Friday night. The damage is to the same arm that Rigney broke against Cork in Offaly’s league game last February.

“I went for a ball and got a stroke on it,” said Rigney. “I couldn’t move the arm. It’s about three inches above where I broke it the first time. I’ll be four to six weeks in a cast and it’s another few weeks again after that to get it fully right.”

In Tyrone at the weekend, Moy duo Philip Jordan and Seán Cavanagh went off injured as their side defeated Cookstown by a point in a contest that saw three players straight red carded including county forward Owen Mulligan. Jordan picked up a knock to the leg while Cavanagh hurt an elbow although its not thought both are serious injuries.

Galway’s preparations for the Connacht football championship received a major boost yesterday when Pádraic Joyce returned to action after an ankle injury. Joyce scored six points for Killererin in a 1-11 to 2-7 win over St Michael’s in Tuam Stadium. His cousin Nicky Joyce, out since last year’s Connacht championship, was a second-half substitute and scored 1-2, including the winning goal in injury-time.

Reigning All Ireland senior camogie champions Wexford added the provincial title to their list of honours yesterday at St Judes in Dublin where they defeated Offaly 2-16 to 0-9. And Cork dealt a harsh lesson to Clare in yesterday evening’s Munster senior final in Cashel, winning 6-12 to 0-3.