Harassment for referee as Wexford women win out

On another dark and wintry afternoon, temperatures momentarily rose a little above normal at the conclusion of the women's All-Ireland club football final replay between Shelmalier of Wexford and Hollymount of Mayo at Portarlington yesterday.

After witnessing their side suffer defeat on a score of 3-8 to 3-4, a number of the Hollymount supporters decided to vent their anger on the referee, and the stewards rushed in to escort the official from the field.

It had been a relatively non-eventful game, with only one booking taking place as Shelmalier claimed only their second club title, but there were enough disputable decisions to heat up the Hollymount support and cause an unfriendly advance towards the referee.

In another replay yesterday, the students of University College Cork overcame the challenge of Clare's Doonbeg 1-17 to 0-7 to earn their third Munster club football title. They will now meet Crossmaglen in the All-Ireland semi-final after Christmas.

Over in Leeds, there was an All-Ireland club quarter-final between Mayo champions Crossmolina and Hugh O'Neill's of Yorkshire, and the 8-15 to 0-4 victory for Crossmolina in no way exaggerates the comfort of their victory. Kieran McDonald was outstanding for the Mayo side, scoring two goals and nine points, and Crossmolina will now meet Leinster champions Na Fianna in the other semi-final.

There were also two rescheduled games in the National Football League, with Fermanagh upsetting All-Ireland champions Meath 0-14 to 0-7 in Division 1B while in Division 1A the points were shared between Armagh and Galway, who drew 2-7 to 1-10.