Riotous scenes to be investigated

THE riotous scenes that marked Saturday's Leinster under-21 match at Parnell Park have placed a question mark over Dublin's continued participation in the championship. A running battle broke out towards the end of the match, in which Dublin beat Offaly by a goal in the 11th minute of injury-time.

With about five minutes left on the clock, and Offaly leading, a Dublin player, Paul Croft, was fouled off the ball. In the aftermath of this incident, Dublin's manager Dave Billings was involved in an on-the-pitch altercation with an Offaly player following which the disorder broke out.

Estimates of its duration vary between five and seven minutes. To the surprise of many observers, referee Frank Toher didn't abandon the match but played nearly 15 minutes injury-time. Offaly were unable to maintain momentum after the fracas and Andrew Whelan's goal - timed at 71 minutes - was decisive.

Four players were sent off Croft from Dublin and Offaly's John Mason and Trevor Willis (John Green had been earlier dismissed) and according to witness reports, several others could have followed.

"Everyone was stunned," according to one Dublin source. "There was nothing in the match to suggest that this was going to happen.

"There is no official response as such," said Offaly PRO Pat Teehan yesterday. "It is regrettable that any match involving Offaly should have developed this way but we will be waiting for the referee's report."

Developments will now immediately await that report to the Leinster Council, whose deliberations may also include video evidence as it is believed that a videotape of the match was recorded and will be available.

Leinster has considered video evidence in the past, notably when Laois and Dublin shared a similar battle in an O'Byrne Cup match three years ago.

In addition, the Dublin county board is believed to be considering action of its own. Whereas officials had no comment to make yesterday, sources indicate apprehension that the county may bear the burden of blame for the fracas and that Dublin's presence in the provincial semi-final, against Meath due for Easter Sunday, is in the balance.

Another strand of opinion within the board is that the team should be withdrawn as a mark of the county's strong disapproval of its indiscipline.

Gardai were called to maintain order at the venue, even though the stewarding was praised by both counties. As a largely precautionary measure, Gardai surrounded the dressing-rooms after the match in order to allow a cooling-down period.

"There were no arrests," according to the Garda Press Office, "and no-one so far has made any complaints. The Garda presence was basically to prevent any further breach of the peace and to make sure that it didn't boil over again afterwards."

The referee was escorted from the ground and Billings was taken away in a police car for his own safety.

Dublin county secretary John Costello and captain Ian Robertson went to offer the customary condolences to the Offaly dressingroom but had to withdraw - due to the hostile response.

There is a final irony in the fact that Offaly's senior manager Tommy Lyons, from Kilmacud Crokes in Dublin, is widely believed to be next in line for the Dublin manager's job whenever Mickey Whelan steps down. One of those frequently associated with Lyons as a potential selector is Billings. In a further twist, Dublin under-21 selector Don Twomey is Lyons's assistant in Offaly.