Shocking scenes ensued during a ladies club championship game in Laois on Monday night after a mass brawl left one player hospitalised with a suspected broken nose.
According to Laois Today, the intermediate championship match between Graiguecullen and St Paul’s was abandoned following the incident.
The incident occurred during the second half of Monday’s clash. Last year’s finalists, Graiguecullen led their opponents when a dispute broke out over whether or not St Paul’s should have been awarded a score following an attempt at goal.
The umpire behind the goal waved the shot as wide but the point was awarded by the referee. This led to a fiery exchange on the sidelines before eventually spilling onto the pitch with players, management and spectators all becoming involved.
Following the mass brawl, the referee abandoned the game with one player being taken to hospital to be treated for a suspected broken nose.
“It was the most shocking thing I have ever witnessed at a game of Ladies football,” an anonymous spectator told Laois Today.
“Players, managers and supporters from both sides were all fighting on the pitch. It really was terrible to see and that type of behaviour has no place anywhere – let alone on a football field.”
The GAA has come under fire a lot in recent months following a spate of mass brawls towards the end of 2018, however, this marks the first time that the ladies game has come under the microscope.
Laois LGFA have declined comment on the incident until they receive an official report from the match referee.
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