Leinster Council receive referee’s report after controversial Tullamore incident

Referee Barry Tiernan was pushed to the ground from behind by a Tullamore footballer who had not played in the game

Referee Barry Tiernan was pushed from behind after the game, sending the Dublin official tumbling to the ground. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho
Referee Barry Tiernan was pushed from behind after the game, sending the Dublin official tumbling to the ground. Photograph: Bryan Keane/Inpho

Leinster Council officials have now received the referee’s report in relation to Sunday’s controversial Leinster club SFC encounter between Tullamore and Summerhill in O’Connor Park, Tullamore.

The game was overshadowed by an incident after the match in which a Tullamore footballer, who had not played in the game and was not togged out, entered the field of play and pushed referee Barry Tiernan from behind, sending the Dublin official tumbling to the ground.

A Leinster Council spokesperson confirmed to The Irish Times on Tuesday morning that the report had been received.

The Leinster CCC will now examine Tiernan’s account of the matter before adjudicating on what the proposed punishment should be for the incident, though the minimum penalty for assaulting a match official was increased in February from 48 weeks to 96 weeks.

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Video footage of the incident has been widely circulated online and the preparator is facing the possibility of a two-year ban – though there are subsequent avenues within the disciplinary process to challenge proposed bans through the Hearings Committee, Appeals Committee, and finally the Disputes Resolution Authority.

Gordon Manning

Gordon Manning

Gordon Manning is a sports journalist, specialising in Gaelic games, with The Irish Times