Football club ‘totally shocked’ after player, 32, shot during match in ‘freak accident’ as hunter theory being probed
A FOOTBALL player was shot in the arm during a match in what gardai are treating as a freak accident.
The bizarre incident happened during the second half of a soccer match between Ballymackey FC and Rearcross Football Club under floodlights at a sports venue in Rearcross, Co Tipperary, shortly after 9pm on Saturday.
Players and spectators reportedly heard the man, aged 32, cry out in pain before falling to the ground.
The footballer, a player for Rearcross FC, was treated at the scene first by club officials and then emergency services personnel after receiving a gunshot wound in the arm.
He was then taken to University Hospital Limerick, but his wounds were not life threatening and he has since been discharged.
The league game was abandoned.
The shooting isn’t being treated as a gangland incident and is not linked to any criminality.
The scene however remained cordoned off on Saturday night for a forensic and technical examination.
Gardai think it may have been a stray shot from nearby farmland and have appealed to people who may have been hunting in the area at the time to come forward.
Spectators were also watching the game at the time.
One source said: “This incident looks as if it was a freak accident.
“It happened in a very rural area and has nothing to do with any form of criminality.”
Ballymackey FC chairman George Haverty said the incident was a terrible shock and that the club hoped the player would make a good and quick recovery.
He added that the North Tipperary and District League has since offered players and officials counselling.
‘Saddened’
He said: “We are very saddened to hear about the incident.
“We wish the player a speedy recovery and hope that gardai find out who is responsible – and what happened – as soon as possible as there are games here under lights every weekend.”
In a statement, Rearcross Football Club said: “All at Rearcross FC are totally shocked at the turn of events last night when our Junior B team were playing a Division 2 league game under lights and a very serious incident occurred.
“We are glad to say that our player is well and was discharged from hospital earlier this morning. We wish him a speedy recovery and to let him know that the whole club are thinking of him and his family at this time.”
They thanked their players, the referee, paramedics, gardai and North Tipperary & District League for their help during the unforeseen event.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station on 067-50450 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.