Huge bans handed out following Wicklow SFC terrace brawl

Wicklow CCC has thrown the book at Rathnew and Carnew Emmets following the off-field brawl which marred their recent county SFC quarter-final in Aughrim.

Extraordinary footage of fighting on the terrace near the end of the game at Echelon Park has been widely viewed online. The brawl, which involved players and several spectators, broke out just behind the Carnew dugout and lasted for about a minute. Some of the participants appeared to join after entering from the pitch.

Arising from the incident, five Rathnew players have been handed bans ranging from three to five years, while both clubs have been issued with large fines. They both have a right of appeal against the sanctions.

Wicklow GAA chairman Damien Byrne told the Wicklow People: “The deliberations will be sent to clubs by the CCC disciplinary committee.

“It is only right to let the clubs digest and deal with these matters internally, and no one in the GAA organisation condones this sort of behaviour. But I would ask that clubs are given time to deal with this situation.”

Former Wexford sharpshooter Ben Brosnan scored 10 points as 2024 intermediate champions Carnew won by 2-14 to 1-8 to reach the semi-finals.