The GAA referee injured during a stabbing incident in Co Tyrone on Thursday evening, returned to match officiating in less than 24 hours.
Martin McErlain took to the field in Edendork on Friday evening to referee the Tyrone All County League division one game between the home side and Galbally Pearses.
The GAA match official is understood to have suffered injuries to his arm after a man entered the field of play at Paddy Cullen Park in Cookstown at the end of the Tyrone under-16 championship semi-final on Thursday.
Videos posted on social media showed a group of people surrounding the referee after Cookstown scored a late goal to defeat Fintona by a single point.
A Cookstown club official, who had been acting as umpire for the game, was also injured after he intervened as a man approached the match referee.
The GAA club volunteer required hospital treatment.
A 42-year-old man arrested at the scene, was released on police bail on Friday to allow for further enquiries.
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Mr McErlain refereed the Tyrone ACL game the following evening in Edendork with strapping and bandages on his right arm.
Originally from Ballinderry in Co Derry, Mr McErlain is the club referee for Clonoe O’Rahilly’s GAA club, close to Coalisland.
Tyrone GAA confirmed it is conducting its own investigation into the scenes at Paddy Cullen Park in Cookstown on Thursday.
“As the organising body, we treat this incident most seriously, and will be offering our support to those affected. We can make no further comment at this time.”
The chief executive of Ulster GAA, Brian McAvoy, said the Tyrone County Board was working alongside the Cookstown and Fintona clubs to initiate support mechanisms for anyone affected by the violent scenes.
In a brief statement, Cookstown Fr Rocks said its committee was working to ensure that children and young people who witnessed the “disturbing and very serious incident”, have the support and assistance they need.
The Fintona Pearses club also released a statement: “Our thoughts are with those impacted and all focus is on the welfare of the children and young people present.”
Brian McAvoy said: “I have been involved in the GAA for over 50 years and never known anything like this,” he said.
“Anyone I have spoken to has never known anything like it either, so it seems to be a first and hopefully a last.
“Our thoughts go out to the referee and umpire who were injured in the incident,” he added.
“It’s a traumatic time for them and also for the two young teams.
“This attack happened in front of children and that can’t be lost. It’s unacceptable that it happens at all, but it’s magnified when it happens in front of children.”
The GAA also condemned the incident “in the strongest terms possible”.
In a statement, the sporting body said: “As an organisation we have a duty of care to protect our volunteer officials and the events that unfolded in Cookstown are totally unacceptable.
“We will work with the PSNI and our units, at both county and club level, to establish the facts around what occurred, and, in the meantime, we extend our best wishes to those who were injured in the incident.”
