Former Kerry footballer Aidan O’Mahony has stressed how mindful players need to be in public after an apparent flashpoint between a pair of Limerick and Tipperary hurlers.
A Limerick player has been arrested following an alleged altercation with a Tipperary counterpart in the early hours of Monday morning, just hours after the counties had faced off in a Munster Championship game which Limerick won by seven points.
Gardaí were apparently called to the scene with the Limerick player arrested on suspicion of an alleged public order offence and detained at Henry Street Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.
The All-Ireland champions are back in action this weekend against Clare and the Limerick county board confirmed in the statement that one of their players “was involved in a breach of our team protocols”, adding that the matter was being dealt with internally and that there would be no further comment for now.
It’s not the first high profile disciplinary breach involving the Limerick panel in recent years as two members of the squad were sent home from a trip to New York in November 2019 after a video filmed by one player of another involved in a street altercation circulated on social media.
A Limerick player’s name was mentioned on social media yesterday in connection with the latest incident and O’Mahony, who is a member of An Garda Síochána, told Paddy Power News: “In our time it was different we didn’t have social media. I was disappointed to see the player being named for their families’ and work colleagues’ sakes.
“Their names are being brandished across the media and a lot of people commenting on it before they know the ins and outs.
“It’s a tough place for those players to be in. I know Limerick county board have issued a statement on it.
“They’re out at the weekend again and there will be a lot of eyes on that game for maybe the wrong reasons.”
Gardaí are investigating a public order incident which occurred at a licensed premises on Denmark Street, Co. Limerick in the early hours of Monday 9th May 2022.
A man aged in his 20s was arrested at the scene and taken to Henry Street Garda Station where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. He has since been released and a file will now be prepared for the DPP.
O’Mahony added: “The only ones that will know what happened are the two players that were there.
“That’s the world we live in. Phones are whipped out before you know it. Players are in the public eye constantly and they need to be aware of themselves.
“GAA is huge in this country and you’re a role model for people coming up along the line.
“Everyone has a phone and you can’t walk in anywhere now without someone knowing you.
“Limerick play Clare at the weekend they’ll move on. There’s a big game ahead of them and they just have to concentrate on that.”
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