Hudson show ends in draw and mass brawl

Leinster Club FC/Rathvilly 0-8 Starlights 0-8: An ugly mass brawl after the final whistle marred this Leinster Club SFC quarter-final which finished level between Rathvilly of Carlow and Wexford champions Starlights at Dr Cullen Park, Carlow, yesterday.

There was an element of confusion at the final whistle. John Hudson, Starlight's full forward, thought he had kicked the winning point in the fourth minute of injury time but it transpired that Kildare referee Fintan Barrett had blown for full time before the kick was taken.

Tempers boiled over with players from both sides getting involved in a brief brawl.

The game, however, will be remembered for John Hudson's influence. The rangy Starlights full forward kicked all eight points for his side - four from play - in an outstanding individual performance.

Rathvilly had started off in magnificent style with four unanswered points from Brendan Murphy, Seán Kavanagh, JJ Smith and David Nolan. But by half time Hudson had raised half a dozen white flags as the visitors led 0-6 to 0-5.

A brace of Smith points from play put Rathvilly back in front early in the second half. Hudson then levelled from a free before Brendan Murphy kicked Rathvilly in front, also from a free, in the 36th minute. It was to be the home side's last score.

In the first minute of injury time, Rathvilly failed to clear their lines and Hudson swooped for the levelling point. Then came the point that wasn't and the subsequent unseemly row.

RATHVILLY: A Doyle, K Byrne, C Doyle, C Cole, P Curran, J Kehoe, T Bolger, K Doyle, S Murphy, F Kelly, M Ryan (0-1), J J Smith (0-3), B Murphy (0-2, 0-1f), S Kavanagh (0-1), D Nolan (0-1). Sub: D O'Donoghue for Murphy.

STARLIGHTS: J Russell, P Murphy, M Gahan, L Boland, M Quigley, R Quigley, A Russell, O Kinlough, S Deegan, E Furlong, D Ruth, W Hudson, O O'Connor, J Hudson (0-8, 0-4f), T Mahon. Subs: D O'Brien for Furlong; P Walsh for Deegan.

Referee: F Barrett (Kildare)