Ó Sé says it's time to stop this violence

GAA NEWS ROUND-UP: AMATEUR VIDEO footage of the mass brawl that marred Sunday’s All-Ireland junior club football semi-final …

GAA NEWS ROUND-UP:AMATEUR VIDEO footage of the mass brawl that marred Sunday's All-Ireland junior club football semi-final in Portlaoise was on its way to Croke Park yesterday as the GAA began the latest investigation into disturbing scenes of indiscipline among both players and supporters.

Segments of the video footage were shown on RTÉ news last night, and clearly demonstrated the fighting that broke out along the sideline in front of the main stand, just before half-time, and involving players from both Tyrone club Derrytresk and Kerry’s Dromid Pearses.

The GAA is also awaiting the report of match referee Francis Flynn from Leitrim before deciding what exact course their investigation will take, but with such video footage available they won’t be short of at least some evidence.

Derrytresk were ahead by one point at half-time when the incidents first flared up, and went to claim a 1-10 to 0-7 victory.

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Officials and substitutes from both sides also appeared to enter the field of play during the fighting, and there are also various reports of a small section of supporters getting involved too.

Derrytresk are due to face Clonbur of Galway in the All-Ireland junior football final on February 12th in Croke Park, a fixture that was already confirmed by the GAA yesterday afternoon – and looks set to go ahead even if there are some suspensions coming down the line.

Kerry’s four-time senior All-Ireland winner and three-time All Star Declan O’Sullivan, playing for Dromid, was reportedly struck with a handbag, and Dromid selector and Kerry County Board officer Diarmuid Ó Sé also confirmed that Denis Shine O’Sullivan has broken a cheekbone.

While denying any effort to take away from Derrytresk’s victory, Ó Sé also called on the GAA to undertake as thorough an investigation as possible, and not just into the unruly incidents that likely soured the outcome to both teams.

“While Derrytresk beat us comprehensively on the day, I thought that some of scenes out there were some of the most disgraceful I have ever witnessed at a football game,” said Ó Sé.

“I cannot understand how the GAA can allow this to happen.

“For me, the GAA has to investigate these incidents big time. I never witnessed anything like this even in the cut and trust of South Kerry football or Kerry football. We play it hard and we play it tough but I think when outside forces can jump onto a field and cause a melee or a fracas, then it’s time to shout stop.

“I think that if the GAA allows this type of violence and intimidation to take place, then our games are in big trouble. I am not so sure that hitting clubs with big fines is any good either. I think the GAA will have to root out the trouble makers and give them long-term suspensions.

“They have video evidence to look back on. Take a report from the stewards and the Garda. An assault on a pitch like that should be the same as an assault on the street. Funny thing is in the build-up to this game we got a 15-page memo from Croke Park about rules and regulations for the day and there were very few officials and stewards here to implement them.”

Meanwhile, Dublin County Board chairman Andy Kettle has reiterated his own fears for any moves towards payments to intercounty managers but added that Saturday’s consultation meeting in Croke Park on the recently published document on the issue was only the first step in what could be a lengthy and extended process.

“The meeting last Saturday was an initial meeting called at short notice,” he said. “And there was no consensus. There were a few opinions offered but no real hard facts to come out of it. County board officials were asked to take it to their counties and at this stage that’s where it is at.”

A written submission will next be submitted by each county after their own internal discussions by February 24th, and with that will come the next phase of the consultation process.

“There will be conflicting views,” added Kettle. “I come from one camp. I’m against it. I come from the voluntary ethos. I think it is a unique part of our association. It carries down to the parish, it carries down to the jersey, down to playing with your own friends.

“I come from a small club in north county Dublin. We were lucky to win a Dublin intermediate title a couple of years ago which led on to an All-Ireland series. The buzz that it created in the area and the pride it created in the parish is something unique. I don’t think it happens at junior level or ground level in any other sport.

“I would fear that payments to managers would be another reason why the association moves towards semi-professionalism. That’s something I would not like to see in my lifetime.

“I feel very strongly that if we as an organisation lost that love for the game, the association would not be the association that it is today. But right now I don’t really have a gut feeling as to which way this might ultimately go.”