THE GAA is to launch an inquiry into the chaos at Croke Park yesterday which led to thousands of fans spilling onto the field during the Leinster hurling semi final between Dublin and Kilkenny.

Play was suspended for almost 10 minutes during the first half as the confused supporters, who had arrived in the New Stand only to discover that it was already full, were relocated to the Hogan Stand on the opposite side of the field.

Further confusion developed at the Hogan Stand as the crowds struggled to gain access. Most were Wexford and Offaly fans who had come to support their teams in the following game. Many were angry at the situation, describing it as "a cockup" and "a disgrace".

Leinster Council chairman Jim Berry conceded that it was something of an "embarrassment". They had expected a crowd of about 35,000 hut over 52,000 people turned up.

"It's certainly not an embarrassment to have a crowd of that size but the way we handled it was a bit of an embarrassment," he said. "There will have to be an inquiry to find out what happened and to make sure it won't happen again."

A meeting is held in Croke Park every Monday to review the previous day's events and yesterday's fiasco is believed to be top of today's agenda. Reports from various parties supervising the event, including Gardai, stewards and security officers, will be discussed before any action is taken.

Pat Doyle, a 24 year old publican from Wexford town, was one of the supporters who found himself without a seat in the New Stand.

"They called out over the speakers that the place was full, yet they still let people in for another 15 minutes afterwards," he said. "They just kept coming and coming.

Having crossed to the Hogan Stand, he encountered further difficulties. "We weren't let in through the gate so we had to climb over the fence to get into the Hogan Stand. It was okay for us, but there were women and children trying to get in through the wire. It was absolutely disgraceful."

Berry could not explain why stiles remained open at the New Stand despite the overcrowding inside. "I can't answer that one, but we allowed children in free with their parents and I presumed there was a lot of children there.

Groups of players and officials from various GAA clubs would also have swelled numbers. They had apologised to the players and mentors from Dublin and Kilkenny for "the interruption," he added.

Senan O'Loughlin, 23, a trainee actuary from Wexford town, witnessed the confusion in the New Stand. "We thought it was a bomb scare at first. When people are being moved in huge volumes across the pitch you assume that something is wrong. It seems to have been the typical GAA mixture of incompetence and greed."

Another Wexford supporter, also transferred to the Hogan Stand, said there was a small degree of panic as women and children struggled to get through the wire fencing and into the stand. "People couldn't believe the way they were being treated. They didn't know what was going on," said the supporter, who did not want to be named.

Matters were further complicated in the all ticket Hogan Stand when people arrived to find their seats taken by refugees from the New Stand - some of whom refused to move. Gerry Hennessy, from Castletown, Co Meath, said three Offaly supporters were allowed into seats on the top deck of the Hogan Stand after consultation with the stewards present.

"Everything was fine until the three ticket holders arrived just before the second match. The lads refused to budge and the guards eventually bad to be called. They were very angry about it all," he added.

Doyle said three women who arrived in the lower deck with their tickets also found their seats taken by supporters who refused to move. "The women had to go oft and get a seat somewhere else. The whole thing was a cockup.