‘Utter madness’: Rival fans throw bottles and hurl abuse at Limerick soccer match

THERE were shocking scenes at a soccer match in Jackman Park in Limerick city this Sunday.

Rival fans threw bottles and hurled abuse at each other at various stages before, during and after the game. The scenes continued despite the large garda presence at the match between Geraldines AFC and Moyross Utd Football Club in the Division 3A Power Cup Final.

Numerous videos of the fiery exchanges have been shared on social media. The incidents follow a mass brawl at a match between Star Rovers and Southend in St Mary’s Park last month.

This Sunday’s scenes unfolded before the 10.30am kick-off as supporters came through the turnstiles at the grounds off Lower Carey’s Road. Gardai including members of the Public Order Unit had to step in, as did a number of women, to keep scores of opposing fans from squaring up to each other.

Bottles were also thrown by fans while children were in the vicinity. The footage shows opposing fans loudly goading each other with fists clenched. Gardai moved one set of fans to another part of the ground.

Moyross won the match on penalties after extra-time. There was a pitch invasion with a large number of gardai again separating supporters and preventing matters escalating on the field.

One person on a video can be heard saying “utter madness”. While another told Limerick Live, “Celtic and Rangers wouldn’t get a look in”.

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A spokesperson for the Limerick and District League referred queries of a public order nature to gardai. They did say it was a “great game of ball between two fully-committed teams”.

“It was the biggest attendance of the season at Jackman with 500/600 people there. This is the third time they have played each other with some extraordinary football and lots of goals. Geraldines had won the league and Moyross won the cup today.

“It was 1-1 at full-time today. Moyross went 2-1 up in extra-time with Geraldines scoring with the last kick of the game to make it 2-2. Moyross were more accurate in the penalty shoot-out. Once the game was over and the cup presented everybody left,” said the spokesperson.

The Garda Press Office has been contacted for comment.