South Tipperary Under 17 B football championship final abandoned amid ugly scenes

Sunday morning’s South Tipperary Under 17 B Football Championship final between Carrick Swan and Cahir at Ned Hall Park, Clonmel was abandoned four minutes from full time, amid ugly scenes.

Referee Martin Doyle made the decision to call off the game at the Clonmel Og grounds, as rows broke out on the pitch and on the sideline.

Carrick Swan were leading 2-6 to 0-6 at the time, thanks to second half goals from Sean Foley and Callum Walsh, and club officials and supporters were incensed that the game was cut short so close to full time.

Swan trailed 0-4 to 0-1 after 25 minutes but had drawn level at 0-4 each at half-time, and when a free from the outstanding Stefan Tobin put them ahead four minutes into the second half, they were never headed again.

The game had been played in a good spirit but tempers became frayed in the final quarter.

The incident that sparked the major turmoil was a red card for Cahir player Tom Delaney, following a foul on a Swan player. Delaney, one of the stars of the All-Ireland-winning Tipperary minor hurling team, had been booked earlier in the game.

As players from both sides became involved in the altercation on the pitch, it then spread to the sideline and after a number of minutes trying to restore calm, the referee extended his arms to call off the game.

Swan mentors protested his decision, as he and his officials made their way back to the dressing rooms.

See the full report in The Nationalist on Wednesday.