There must be something in the air this weekend.
Friday night saw players from Stewartstown and Strabane wade into each other during a Tyrone senior football championship encounter that saw four men (two from each side) sent off. On Saturday, in Derry, fans were forced to endure similar, grim scenes.
Eoghan Rua (Coleraine) took on Ballinascreen in the Derry Senior Hurling Championship semi-final at Celtic Park.
‘Screen won out by 10 points to reach the final but Eoghan Rua were left ruing wides (they were guilty of 15 of them) and discipline issues as they picked up three cautions, including a red card.
Statistical report, Full Time @EoghanRua v @ScreenGAA . #SHC #LeadonTimberframe #oakleaftv pic.twitter.com/nW0eVdUiSQ
— Derry GAA (@Doiregaa) September 15, 2018
Eoghan Rua were in the tie for most of the game but only slipped off in the closing stages, with the margin of victory looking pretty ugly for them.
Not as ugly, though, as the brawl several of their number were involved in. Players from both sides, and members of the backroom teams, got embroiled in a melee that started with four players going at it and escalated quickly.
Referee Aidan McAleer and his assistant tried their best but it took a while to sate both panels.
An on-looking fan in the crowd called out, “Gurriers!” as the madness took hold of far too many men.
SportsJOE was sent on the following video, by a reader, that paints very few involved in a good light.
It is amazing that not more red cards were flashed after this mess.
