Radio Kerry reports that suspensions of one and two years for players involved in the alleged assault of an umpire during a Kerry Intermediate Hurling League Division 2 final have been proposed by the Kerry County Board Competitions Control Committee.
The assault occurred during the game between Ladies Walk and Causeway when a Ladies Walk players contested that a ball which they believed should have been signaled as wide resulted in a goal for Causeway.
Kieran O'Connor, the umpire involved, was taken to Kerry General Hospital for treatment after the incident which happened 10 minutes into the second half of the game. Referee Tony McCarthy abandoned the match following the assault.
It is the second time in recent months that a hurley has been used as a weapon on the pitch in Kerry. Back in September, during the drawn Kerry Hurling Championship final between Lixnaw and Kilmoyley, Paul Galvin was struck by the vice-chairman of the Kilmoyley club.
