‘Disgraceful incidents’ mar minor final

On a day when some of the best minor hurlers in Clare produced an exciting and most entertaining championship final, it’s likely that the game will be most remembered for a few disgraceful incidents, none involving players.

 

The spark that ignited a serious row at Sixmilebridge came 11 minutes into the second half when rival mentors Niall Romer (Kilmaley) and Tommy Howard (Clarecastle) confronted each other on the pitch. At the time Romer was attending to a Kilmaley player who was on the ground.

The row quickly escalated with some mentors getting involved, among them former Clare captain and Dublin hurling manager, Anthony Daly from Clarecastle.

A number of spectators from both sides scaled the fence on the dugout side of the pitch and got involved.

This row had just ended when another one flared on the stand side of the pitch and here supporters from both sides also scaled the fence to get involved.  This lasted between one and two minutes.

When order was restored and the spectators left the field, referee Jim Hickey ordered Clarecastle manager Tom Howard and Kilmaley coach Niall Romer from the enclosure.

Romer is due to appear before the CHC (County Hearings Committee) arising from an incident in the match between Kilmaley and Inis Cealtra in the same competition earlier in the campaign. It is understood that the hearing hasn’t taken place because some witnesses being called by Romer haven’t been available.
The minor final was played in a most sporting fashion throughout and credit must go to both groups of players who, despite the nasty row, never lost focus on what they were there for.

The players, many of whom are schoolmates and a number of whom were team-mates on the county U-16, U-17 and minor squads during the year, fought tooth and nail for every ball from the throw-in and while the exchanges were hard, there wasn’t a dirty stroke in the game

It was reassuring to see both teams in a group huddle before play resumed after the rows and, to their credit, they continued to play a sporting contest.

“The mentors let the players down today,” was how one patron leaving the grounds described what he had just witnessed.

Bord na nÓg will be expected to take strong action when they sit down to consider the referee’s report. Incidents like this have no place in Gaelic games.

The Clare underage hurling board (Bord na nÓg Iomaint) has responsibility for running of championship. According to their chairman, Martin Reynolds, the board is awaiting the referee’s report.

“Once we have that we will take whatever action is deemed appropriate,” he said.
Kilmaley will, according to their chairman Conor Clancy cooperate fully with both Bord na nÓg and the county board in any enquiry.

“As a club we don’t condone incidents of the nature of what happened last weekend but I think it has been blown somewhat out of proportion. Some of the reports that have circulated in the national media have been inaccurate and have sensationalised what occurred,” the former county player said.

“I was surprised that the event happened as there has never been any issues between the Clarecastle and Kilmaley clubs over our long playing history. In fact it has been quite the opposite. Our clubs have always got on well together so I think this can be considered to be very much an isolated incident. In fact, it is the first time our club has ever been involved in anything of this nature.

“Our coach Niall Romer was attending to an injured Kilmaley player on the field of play when one Clarecastle mentor ran on to the pitch to confront him. In fairness the people involved on both sides are great servants of hurling themselves and have been instrumental, not only on the playing fields with club and county, but also in developing the next generation of talent for our club and county teams and this should not be forgotten”.

The Kilmaley official concluded by commending both sets of players for the remarkable restraint they showed in not getting involved in the incident, contrary to some reports in the media. “On the day they played out an enthralling minor A final and they certainly did their clubs and their parents proud. Both of our clubs and county teams certainly have a bright future on the basis of the quality of hurling which was witnessed on the day in question,” he said.

Following a meeting of the club on Tuesday night, Clarecastle GAA issued a brief statement.

“The members and officers of Clarecastle GAA club are very disappointed at the incident that took place in Sixmilebridge last Saturday, which marred an outstanding minor hurling final. The game had been played in an exemplary spirit by two great teams. Our club awaits discussion with Bord na nÓg on the referee’s report.”