Gaelic Games Digest: Tralee CBS principal Tony O'Keeffe has promised he will be taking swift action against the perpetrators who led the invasion of the Austin Stack Park when referee Brendan Twiss sounded the final whistle on the Munster Colleges Frewen Cup final, which saw St Brendan's, Killarney defeat Tralee, 3-13 to 2-11.
Two Killarney players, Jamie O'Sullivan and James O'Donoghue, were kicked and punched and only swift action by Tralee CBS staff and the good sense of players from both sides prevented more serious violence and the possibility of someone getting seriously hurt.
One Tralee CBS student who did not wish to be named, said: "This is disgraceful behaviour as Tralee CBS have always taken their defeats on the pitch and a couple of mindless hooligans have brought shame on us all."
O'Keeffe was one of the first on the pitch to quell the trouble. "I can assure you two of the ringleaders are not even in our school and we have identified two more who are in school. We will be taking prompt and decisive action against the guilty parties. There was a lot of lads out there who were not involved but they should not have run on to the pitch . . ."
The referee was in the middle of the fracas and the Munster Colleges Council who had Christy Killeen present will await his report to decide if any action needs to be taken.
Dolan one of Westmeath injured
Westmeath footballers have two major injury worries ahead of their Leinster football championship clash with Longford on Sunday week. Former All Star forward Dessie Dolan and midfielder David O'Shaughnessy are extremely doubtful for the visit to Pearse Park. They sat out recent training sessions and challenge games. Dolan has a shoulder injury from a training ground collision a fortnight ago and is believed to be losing his race against time.
Cooper's change of mind a boost for Wexford
Wexford goalkeeper John Cooper, who two weeks ago announced his intercounty retirement, has rejoined the county squad and attended a training session on Monday evening. Cooper had given work and family commitments as the reasons for reaching his original decision which came six weeks before the county's championship opener against Wicklow or Louth on June 3rd.
Manager Paul Bealin said: "John, who is a Garda in Gorey, had work commitments. Having discussed what was planned for the championship he went back and spoke to his sergeant. As a result of these discussions he has now returned to the panel. It's a great boost to have a player of John's experience."
It's a huge boost to Wexford who had already lost players of the calibre of Shane Cullen, Paraic Curtis, Diarmuid Kinsella ( all abroad) and John Hudson (injured).
