A brawl in the 58th minute led to the abandonment of the Leinster club hurling championship game between Carlow side Naomh Eoin and Trim at Dr Cullen Park on Saturday.
Kilkenny referee Dermot Ronan was about to book a Naomh Eoin defender and a Trim attacker when bedlam broke out in the midfield area of the pitch.
The trouble spread quickly and the referee, realising that a free-for-all was in progress, abandoned the match and left the field of play.
The violent and ugly scenes continued for a minute after the referee's departure. When the dust finally settled at least one player from each side lay prone on the ground.
The main casualty was Naomh Eoin centre forward Robert Foley who sustained a nasty cut over his eye.
Trim had led throughout and were 1-5 to 0-3 in front at halftime. The Meath champions lost midfielder David McGuinness after 23 minutes when he was sent off for retaliating on Naomh Eoin midfielder Anthony Curry who was booked.
Naomh Eoin used the extra man to good effect in the final quarter and reduced the deficit to a point before an Alan Smith point from a free put Trim two points clear. Then came the premature end to the match which means the outcome will be decided at Leinster Council boardroom level. Portlaoise await that outcome.
Trim: B Carley; P Dunne, C J Murtagh, J Loughlin; K McEvoy, K Walsh, T Canty; G Kennedy, D McGuinness; R Fitzsimons (0-1), A Smith (0-3), K Meehan; P Gilsenan, I McCaffrey (1-2), J Canty (0-2). Subs: D Mullen for Gilsenan, A Leonard for Walsh.
Naomh Eoin: T J Foley; N Kavanagh, P Keogh, P Jordan; A Keogh, C Jordan (0-2), K Nolan; A Curry, S Spruhan; M Slye, R Foley, D Roberts; B Murphy (1-3), D Murphy (0-1), J Byrne. Sub: J P Murphy for Byrne.
Referee: D Ronan (Kilkenny).
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