The 16th Man

The Dr Crokes club in Killarney has issued a statement following what they say was a “misinterpretation” of earlier comments, that they wanted supporters segregated at their AIB All-Ireland Club SFC semi-final against Crossmaglen Rangers at O’Moore Park, Portlaoise next month.

Chairman of the reigning Kerry and Munster champions Vincent Casey was quoted earlier today as saying, that after the violent scenes in Portlaoise last Sunday during the Dromid Pearses and Derrytresk All-Ireland JFC semi-final, he would hope for supporters to be in different areas of the Laois venue.

“We are looking for a block of tickets for our supporters so they can sit together in a particular area of the stand and therefore both sets of supporters can cheer on their team, without interfering or upsetting each other,” Casey told the Irish Examiner.

“It’s basic common sense and good practice really because we want the 30 players on the field grabbing the headlines afterwards, unlike the coverage our games have been getting over the past number of days.

“We are also looking for adequate stewarding in view of what happened there on Sunday…and also that they have a bigger Garda presence than last Sunday.

“We would like to see the area in front of the where the substitutes sit to be well stewarded so there is no chance of anyone other than authorised personnel having any access to the pitch.

“We have mentioned it to the Kerry County Board and they will represent us at county level, and let Croke Park know about our concerns. Some county board officials were there and saw what happened in Portlaoise so they are aware of the situation.”

However, the former All-Ireland SFC Club champions today issued a statement clarifying that they wanted to block book a section together, so that family and juvenile members could be sectioned in the one area.

“Regarding the forthcoming All Ireland Club Semi Final Dr. Crokes Club wish to clarify misinformation that appeared in the media this morning regarding that we have requested “segregation of supporters” at the forthcoming All Ireland Club Semi Final against Crossmaglen Rangers,” the statement read.

“What the club has requested is an allotment of tickets in a particular section of the stand where juvenile members and their families can sit together as many families had requested this after our Munster Final win.

“We’ve brought juvenile members to all our games this year and they have been together for the games. However we believe that there will be a large attendance at the game in Portloise and hence our reason for looking for an area where these can be accommodated together. All other interpretation of the clubs requests are a misinterpretation of the facts and the Club is in no way calling for segregation of supporters.”

The statement added: “We have also requested that there be adequate stewarding on the day, in particular on the area in front of where the subs are seated to avoid any potential repeat of last Sunday.”

It will be the second time for Dr Crokes and Crossmaglen Rangers to meet at the Portlaoise venue, with the All-Ireland SFC Final replay between the clubs in 2007 also taking place in O’Moore Park.