Six off, one hospitalised in Wicklow row

GAELIC GAMES NEWS ROUND-UP: WICKLOW:Six players were dismissed on red cards following a row between players from two Wicklow clubs Stratford and Rathnew 10 minutes from the end of their senior league clash on Saturday evening. One Stratford player ended up in hospital after being knocked out while a player from Rathnew lost two teeth.

The row flared when a Stratford defender shipped a high tackle on his own 45 and a Rathnew player was struck as a consequence, resulting in up to 20 players from the two sides getting involved in a fracas.

When the fighting ended, three players from Stratford and two more from Rathnew were lying on the ground unconscious.

The game was held up for 25 minutes and before restarting. Wicklow town referee Eddie Leonard issued six red cards, three on each side.

Stratford eventually won by 1-13 to 0-9.

HURLING CHALLENGE:Dublin manager Anthony Daly admitted that his side received a hurling lesson from Cork in a weekend challenge as former Australian Rules Football player Aisake ÓAilpín starred for the Leesiders in a 3-22 to to 0-14 victory.

Ó’Ailpín was a constant thorn in the side of Dublin’s defence and his performance at full forward has pushed the Na Piarsaigh star firmly into contention for a starting place against Tipperary in the Munster championship showdown on May 31st.

Daly, meanwhile, has urged his players to heed the harsh lesson dished out by Cork at Wexford venue Oylgate on Saturday ahead of their Leinster championship opener against Antrim on June 7th.

The two-time All-Ireland senior medallist said: “Dublin got a timely reminder that league and championship are two completely different ball games.

“We got a lesson and it just shows that we can’t be running away with ourselves. We might have gone well in the league but championship is a different animal.”

Dublin also have serious injury problems to contend with as they prepare for the visit of the Saffrons to Croke Park next month.

Ronan Fallon is a massive doubt with a broken metatarsal bone in his foot and the centre back will be in plaster for another 10 days, Daly revealed.

Tomás Brady, Ross O’Carroll and Peter Kelly did not feature against Cork because of hamstring injuries, while the manager’s injury concerns have been exacerbated by a dead leg sustained by captain Stephen Hiney.

Niall Corcoran is on the treatment table with an ankle problem, while Joey Boland, David O’Callaghan and goalkeeper Gary Maguire did not feature at the weekend because of a flu bug which has swept through the Dublin camp.

GALWAY:Wing back Darren Mullahy looks set to miss Galway's championship opener on Sunday week against London after being injured in a challenge match.

The Milltown clubman suffered a hamstring injury against Cavan two weeks ago and recovery has been slow.

He did not feature in a midweek challenge against Meath and has not been able train.

Time is running out if the player is to make the Connacht championship clash in Ruislip.