NEWS ROUND-UP: THE MONAGHAN football management have submitted a complaint to the GAA's Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) claiming forward Tommy Freeman was struck by a Dublin official in the closing stages of Sunday's draw at Parnell Park.
With three minutes of injury- time concluded and Dublin leading by a point, referee Syl Doyle awarded Monaghan a free just right of the posts. As Paul Finlay levelled the contest, an as yet unnamed person encroached on to the playing surface and head-butted Freeman, claimed Monaghan County Board chairman John Connolly.
"What happened to Tommy is thuggery," said Connolly. "He was knocked to the ground just as Paul was taking his free. We've asked the Dublin County Board and CCCC to investigate it.
"We reported the incident to the Dublin county chairman (Gerry Harrington) and secretary (John Costello) after the game and the CCC committee this morning. When it is 15 men against 15 men we take what comes but we cannot accept someone running on to the pitch. In fairness to the Dublin chairman and secretary, they were supportive and will be investigating the matter."
Costello was unable to shed any light on the issue yesterday but did confirm the complaint: "John Connolly made a comment post match in relation to an incident. Obviously we'll be co-operating fully with any investigation."
Monaghan manager Séamus McEnaney added: "I would never have a problem with what happens between players on the field but not in anyone's wildest dreams could they condone what happened. It's not good for our game."
Connolly also highlighted a number of post-game incidents when Monaghan players were accosted by Dublin supporters as they headed towards the dressingroom. McEnaney had kept them on the pitch, in a huddle, for a team talk immediately after the full-time whistle.
"The behaviour of the Dublin supporters was also very poor," continued Connolly. "After the match there was a number of incidents of pushing and shoving of Monaghan players. We don't mind taking the heavy knocks and going home but there is no need for that level of disrespect.
"I'm very disappointed from a health and safety point of view. The subs are not allowed on the field at half-time in a match so it shouldn't be acceptable that 40 to 50 kids are out on the pitch.
"It was poor stewarding; there weren't enough stewards there to begin with. I'm a steward myself and I'll tell you, these incidents wouldn't happen up in Ulster at half-time or after a match. If we retaliated they would have had a riot on their hands. We expect higher standards."
Referee Doyle, from Wexford, needed to be escorted off the pitch afterwards with a Garda at one point forced to push away a remonstrating Dublin supporter.
"Syl Doyle has come in for some unjust criticism," added McEnaney. "I thought he handled a good, tough, hard game very well."
Doyle's report may shine further light on the Freeman issue but it will certainly establish whether Mark Vaughan was shown a straight red card or a second yellow after the linesman intervened to inform the referee that Vaughan had struck Damien Freeman.
A photograph - used widely in yesterday's papers - shows the Dublin forward connecting with the Monaghan captain's jaw.
"As far as I know it was a second yellow card," said Dublin County Board chairman Gerry Harrington. "We'll await the findings of Syl Doyle's referee's report."
The CCCC convene this morning to discuss hurling fixtures but it is unclear whether incidents from Parnell Park will be on the agenda. Chairman Jimmy Dunne was unavailable for comment.
