A mass brawl which resulted in five players receiving their marching orders in the closing stages of yesterday's Offaly SFC 'B' quarter-final overshadowed Walsh Island's 1-8 to 0-6 victory over St Rynagh's.

The row broke out with three minutes remaining in the clash at Bord na Mona O'Connor Park. When referee Eamon O’Connor eventually restored order, he issued straight red cards to Colm Gavin and John Doyle of Walsh Island and St Rynagh’s Sean Dolan and Joey O’Connor, who was receiving treatment on the sideline at the time.

A third Walsh Island player, Oisin Murphy, was also sent off on a black card in addition to his earlier yellow, meaning he – unlike Gavin and Doyle – won’t be suspended for the semi-final against either Clara or Tubber.

St Rynagh’s also had full forward Gary Mahon sent off on a straight red card in the 35th minute, but still finished with 13 players on the pitch after they had introduced Martin Byrne as a blood sub for O’Connor during the long break in play caused by the melee.

As well as brandishing six red cards, inter-county ref O’Connor dished out eight yellow cards and two blacks. The unsavoury scenes are expected to be investigated by the Offaly CCC.

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