Northern Ireland

GAA club condemns violent clashes

A mass brawl broke out at a match between Downpatrick Russell Gaelic Union and Ballyholland Harps on Sunday
A mass brawl broke out at a match between Downpatrick Russell Gaelic Union and Ballyholland Harps on Sunday A mass brawl broke out at a match between Downpatrick Russell Gaelic Union and Ballyholland Harps on Sunday

A GAA club involved in a clash between rival players and supporters has condemned the incident saying violence has no place in the game.

A fixture between Ballyholland Harps GAC and Downpatrick Russell Gaelic Union on Sunday was disrupted.

The match already had to be re-arranged after the initial game was abandoned when a player received a head injury during an altercation.

And Sunday's match was disrupted by a row which former Armagh captain Jarlath Burns described as "the worst I have ever seen".

Players from both teams sprinted off the pitch and vaulted a fence to weigh into an off-pitch fight near the ground's car park. Supporters also got involved.

Down GAA is expected to hold an investigation into the latest altercation between the rival teams.

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Video footage showed some young children wandering across the pitch to watch the fracas.

In a statement, Downpatrick RGU condemned the incident.

"We acknowledge that such behaviour has no place in our games," the statement said.

"We will be investigating the events within our own club processes and will be fully cooperating with Down GAA CCC in any investigation being undertaken.

"We will not be responding to any media/social media speculation and will not be commenting further until all investigations are complete."