An underage hurling match in Limerick had to be called off after the players were threatened by a man wielding a slash hook.

The incident happened on the May Bank Holiday Monday when the Bruree under-16's took on St Patrick's at Rhebogue in Limerick city.

As the teams warmed up before the match, a sliotar was accidentally pucked into a halting site adjoining the GAA grounds and broke a window reports the Limerick Leader.

A member of the travelling community is then alleged to have come out and threw a brick and a bottle at the players, while verbally abusing the players.

He then returned to the site and came back brandishing the slash hook, and it is alleged that he struck some of the St Patrick's players, although it is unclear if it was with the slash hook. The players were taken from the pitch and the game was cancelled.

Limerick GAA chairman Oliver Mann revealed that they will fully cooperate with the Gardai, who have launched an investigation into the matter.

"Limerick GAA will, if called upon, cooperate with this investigation in every way possible so as to ensure that incidents of this nature do not re-occur," said Mann. Tweet

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