The Leinster Council of the GAA is treating "as a matter of urgency" reports that serious violence took place towards the end of the Walsh Cup hurling match between Laois and Dublin in Abbeyleix on Sunday. The referee, Fergus Smith, has been asked to present his match report to tomorrow's meeting of the Leinster Council.
A video tape recording of the match, including the late fracas which involved players, substitutes, supporters and allegedly officials of the two teams, is available and will be studied also. The Leinster Council has been in touch with the Laois County Board, which owns the video tape, for a copy.
Leinster Council secretary Michael Delaney said yesterday that the council was treating the matter very seriously. "We are not happy about the reports we have heard so far, but we have asked for the video tape to be made available by the Laois County Board and we have asked for the referee's report as a matter of urgency.
"It is our intention to clear this matter up as soon as possible, but we have to give people an opportunity to defend themselves against any allegation which may be made.
"This means that we cannot deal fully with the matter on Wednesday night. We will watch the video as soon as we get it and a copy will be sent to the Dublin County Board. The referee's report will also be made available to the two sides which will be given an opportunity to express their views on what happened.
"What we will do on Wednesday night is initiate an inquiry, but we are determined to get this sorted out as soon as possible as that will be in the best interest of everyone involved." Neither Delaney nor Leinster Council chairman Jim Berry were at the match as both were at the Leinster club football final at Newbridge. But Delaney says that the council officers will make every effort to identify any members who have stepped over the mark and deal with them under the relevant rules.
"We have never backed away from difficult decisions in the past and that will be our approach once again. Incidents can sometimes be exaggerated. It seems that the referee did not send any players off and it appears that nobody was injured, but we will look at the whole episode and make whatever decisions are appropriate," he said.
The two team managers have made brief comments on the reports of violent behaviour. Laois manager Padraig Horan, the former Offaly player, said that he was frightened by what he saw, while Dublin manager Michael O'Grady refused to make a direct comment but said that he would have plenty to say "at a later date".
Laois won the game 0-13 to 010 and go on to meet Offaly in next Sunday's semi-final. The All-Ireland champions will field a largely experimental side, with six newcomers to the grade.
The majority of the Offaly squad will not be returning home from their holiday in South Africa until Saturday, and the opportunity is being availed of to give an outing to their understudies. Johnny Dooley is the only member of the side which started against Kilkenny last September, but other senior panellists named include Ger Oakley, Killian Farrell, John Ryan, Daithi Regan, and Barry Whelahan.
On the Kilkenny hurling front, it would appear that their regular goalkeeper, Joe Dermody, will be out of action for several weeks with a shoulder injury and will definitely miss the National League match against Cork on February 21st.
Standing by to replace him will be Martin Carey, brother of DJ, who gave an impressive performance in the AIB Tournament defeat tournament to Waterford at the weekend. Waterford won 1-15 to 1-9.
offaly (SH v Laois): S Ryan; R Devery, G Oakley, M O'Hara; H Bevans, M Hand, W Comerford; Johnny Dooley, J Guinan; P Gath, D Kelly, K Farrell; J Ryan, D Regan, Barry Whelahan.
