Not for the first time this year, Kerry hurling has seen the hurl used as a weapon. Kieran O'Connor, a 43 year old umpire from Causeway, was whacked three or four times with a hurl during a match between Causeway and Ladies Walk.
The incident occurred after a ball was lashed into the Causeway forwards. The Ladies Walk players argued the ball had gone wide, but neither umpire signalled for it and the play finished with Causeway manufacturing a goal.
The Ladies Walk players were irate and one of their players ran across the field and whacked the umpire three of four times with the hurley.
Mr. O'Connor fell to the ground and the referee abandoned the game. The Irish Examiner report that the umpire was taken to Kerry General Hospital in Tralee and was found to have a 'broken thumb, soft tissue damage to his shoulder and elbow along with a head injury.' He has reported the matter to the Gardai.
