GAA move to quell war of words

THE GAA have moved to quell any war of words between Tyrone club Derrytresk and Kerry’s Dromid Pearses in the fallout from last Sunday’s All-Ireland junior club football semi-final in Portlaoise by claiming their “only priority now is to ensure this is investigated properly”.

While the GAA’s Central Competitions Control Committee (CCCC) are known to be reviewing all evidence of the violent scenes that marred last Sunday’s game, the GAA’s head of games administration and player welfare Feargal McGill declined to comment on when or where that investigation might be going.

“Our only priority now is to ensure this is investigated properly, and that we get the right and proper outcome. On that basis we won’t be commenting publicly on whatever decisions have or have not been made, as of yet, other than saying the investigation is under way, and we’re taking it very seriously.”

Derrytresk are still due to face Clonbur of Galway in the final on February 12th in Croke Park, a fixture that was already confirmed by the GAA – but it also emerged yesterday Kerry senior club Dr Crokes have expressed some concerns about their All-Ireland senior club semi-final against Armagh champions Crossmaglen, which is set for Portlaoise on Saturday, February 18th.

They have looked for some assurances that the venue will have adequate stewarding and Garda presence, and are also looking to block book a section of the stand for their supporters only.

However, McGill declined to comment on whether that was something the GAA would consider: “It’s irrelevant, firstly, and secondly the game is already designated as cash-at-the-gate. We’ve had hundreds of games in Portlaoise over the last few years when nothing at all has been out of order, but of course we would always ensure the stewards were on high alert.”

A statement from the Dromid Pearses club last night claimed “this will act as our final public statement on the events that occurred . . . It is now in the hands of the CCC.

“We wish to make clear that had this occurred with any team we would feel the same. We have the greatest of respect for Tyrone football and all they have achieved but incidents such as last Sunday’s cannot be tolerated by anyone or any team regardless of what county or province they represent.”