There were some frankly incredible scenes in Division Two of Leitrim’s Gaelic football League on Saturday night.
Eventually, due to protests on the pitch, the derby clash of Ballinaglera and Allen Gaels had to be abandoned . The referee had no option but to call the game off.
Just moments earlier, he had thrown the ball in for the beginning of the second half without the presence of the Ballinaglera players on the pitch.
A Leitrim Live report from the game indicates that the referee had sounded his whistle on several occasions before shouting that, due to their delay in returning to the pitch, he was going to restart the game without Ballinaglera.
And that was what he did.
In amazing circumstances, he threw the ball in with just one team on the pitch. Allen Gaels had the freedom of Shane McGettigan Park and they worked the ball unopposed up to Brian Mulvey, who proceeded to score what must have been the easiest goal of his career.
It would have been easier were it not for the efforts of a Ballinaglera spectator who, despite not being dressed for the occasion, tried his best to keep the ball out. Then it all kicked off.
The Ballinaglera players made their way out of the dressing room to confront the referee. Players from both sides got stuck into it but the referee reportedly stuck to his guns. Finally, after all that, with the Gaels leading by 2-6 to 1-4, the match was abandoned there and then due to the commotion.
You can watch the incredible clip below.
Incredible scenes in Leitrim Division Two League last night. Referee starts second half without a Ballinaglera player on field. Allen Gaels score a goal, only after overcoming efforts of Ballinaglera supporter in jeans. Match abandoned due to protests straight afterwards pic.twitter.com/tfVluFAfjx
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) July 2, 2023
All that is left now is for the debacle to go before Leitrim County Board officials to adjudicate on this controversial and indeed bizarre finale.
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