GARDAI IN TALLAGHT made two arrests for ‘public order offences’ last night following a cup clash between Shamrock Rovers and Linfield.
Rovers won their Setanta Cup tie 4-1 but the football was often a side-note on a tumultuous night at Tallaght Stadium.
A member of the gardaí was treated at Tallaght Hospital when they were thrown from their horse, which was startled by a firecracker.
There was sectarian chanting reported from both sets of supporters, with sections of the home crowd singing that there is only ‘one flag in Ireland’.
About 10 Rovers supporters ran onto the pitch to celebrate a goal from Ciaran Kilduff that put their side in charge of the fixture.
With the Dubliners controlling the game, the off-field action was left to barbs from both sets of fans. A Billy Joe Burns goal for Linfield enlivened the atmosphere.
A minority of the Linfield support launched projectiles at the gardaí and match stewards with a small troupe, approximately 12 fans, attempting to gain access to the pitch.
A British flag was also raised, before kick-off, at the far end of the Main Stand, where the Linfield fans were situated, which raised the hackles of the local supporters.
A Union Jack flag is raised at Tallaght Stadium. (©INPHO/Donall Farmer)
A spokesperson for the Garda Press Office confirmed that arrests were made at the ground.
The spokesperson told TheScore.ie, “Two people were arrested for public order offences.
“Their names were taken and they were released last night.”
The spokesperson did hasten to add that the remainder of the night, and post-match, was ‘relatively peaceful’.
In follow-up correspondence, the Press Office commented, “A Garda member was thrown from a Garda horse outside a football match in Tallaght on 4 March; the horse had been startled by a firecracker.
“The Garda member was taken to Tallaght Hospital for treatment, not believed to be life threatening. [The] horse is uninjured.”
Rovers won the fixture thanks to goals from Kilduff, Ronan Finn and Stephen Rice. You can read the report and see the goals here.
- Additional reporting by Steven O’Rourke
