Oldcastle incident may be investigated

The Meath & District League may launch a special investigation arising out of an alleged serious assault during a Reilly Cup game between Oldcastle Utd and Electro Celtic last week. The alleged incident arose with around 20 minutes remaining and produced a straight red card for an Oldcastle player, who had been introduced as a substitute during a stoppage in play. When the game resumed the Oldcastle player was involved in an alleged serious assault which prompted Midland Branch referee Donal Sweeney to issue a red card. According to an official from the Nobber club, the Electro Celtic player received a yellow card for his reaction. The Electro official confirmed to the Meath Chronicle that their player had to receive medical treatment after the game. Meath & District League secretary Gerry Gorman confirmed that the referee's report would be considered at the weekly meeting and that if further investigations were necessary that they would take place . An official from the Oldcastle club confirmed that he was aware that they had a player red-carded in the game. Although the season is heading towards a conclusion, the disciplinary committee could be set for a hectic session next week when they investigate the abandonment of last Saturday's game, also in the Reilly Cup, between hosts Kells / Blackwater and Drogheda Town. The game was abandoned by Meath Branch referee John Barry after he issued a fifth red card to a player from the Louth club. That reduced them to six players. Kells / Blackwater were ahead by 3-1 at the time. It's likely that the MDL will award the game to Kells / Blackwater. The MDL secretary also reported a big increase in complaints from clubs in relation to alleged eligibility of players from opposing teams. "This usually occurs at this time of the season, but there is a mechanism whereby a team can obtain signatures of up to three players from the opposition at the end of any game," he told the Meath Chronicle. "An identified club official shall have the right to request signatures which must be submitted on an official pre-paid form which is available from the MDL and may be used as part of a protest under the normal rules," he added.