Selector banned for six months

The Laois hurling team were last night thrown out of the Walsh Cup final and, along with Dublin, fined £1,000 by the Leinster Council executive, who met in Portlaoise to review the fracas which erupted between players and supporters from both counties at the end of last month's Walsh Cup game. Dublin selector Tommy Naughton was also suspended for six months after he was adjudged to have struck Laois player Declan Rooney during the row.

The decision means that Wexford, who were scheduled to meet Laois in the final of the Walsh Cup, are automatically installed as champions. The decision does not affect either county in terms of league or championship participation.

Laois manager Padraig Horan and his Dublin counterpart Michael O'Grady were among those who attended last night's hearing, which was presided over by 10 members of the Leinster executive. It is understood that they consulted video evidence from the game and referred to the referee's report before reaching their verdict.

Although the Dublin representatives pursued the contentious claim that Laois player Niall Rigney had been dismissed by the referee, this was found not to be the case.

Afterwards, the Laois contingent declared themselves satisfied by the outcome.

Representatives from both counties were called before the board over a two-hour period before the members of the executive retired to consider their position.

The chairmen from both boards were recalled half an hour later and at 11 p.m., the Council members announced the fines and suspension for an incident which provoked much debate. The row broke out at the end of normal time. There was some confusion as to whether Rigney was sent off after he was spoken to by the referee. Various sources claim that Rigney was then hit by someone who encroached the playing area and affairs rapidly deteriorated.

Supporters joined players and, reportedly, mentors in a heated free-for-all during which hurleys were allegedly swung.

The fighting, which continued over a three-minute period, was captured on video by John Brophy, who was recording the match on behalf of the Laois side. That the Abbeyleix pitch is not fenced off is thought to have contributed to the infringement by various supporters.

Although referee Fergus Smith of Meath had reason to book three players in the first half, there was nothing about the character of the game which suggested such a violent conclusion.

Reports of the match were carried by a number of provincial radio stations and included a diverse range of eye witness accounts. Although a number of observers claim to have seen the referee point to the line after talking to Rigney the referee is believed to have clarified the issue later, saying that he had not sent anybody off.

Another version had Laois player David Cuddy being attacked by a number of Dublin players while a separate eye witness testified to having seen a number of Laois players confronting a Dublin individual who was not involved with the team in any capacity.