iaran Lawless from Greenwood Drive celebrating his 21st birthday in the Rugby Club with his pals. ALL PHOTOS: ARTHUR KINAHAN
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23 Feb 2026
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23 Feb 2026
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Sinn Féin TD Ruairí Ó Murchú called the Minister for Sport Patrick O'Donovan's pause in funding for artificial pitches a "knee-jerk reaction"
Sinn Féín TD for Louth Ruairí Ó Murchú has called on Minister for Sport Patrick O'Donovan to work with League of Ireland clubs instead of pausing funding for artificial pitches.
It comes after Minister O'Donovan announced he would pause all funding for astro-turf pitches for all League of Ireland clubs as a result of damage caused to the newly-laid Oriel Park pitch during Friday night's Louth Derby.
Deputy Ó Murchú said damage caused by a "small group of idiots" cannot be allowed to put government funding for the entire league "in jeopardy".
A 12 year-old boy also suffered injuries as a result of being struck by a flare.
The Louth TD described the "deliberate destruction" of the new pitch as a "real slap in the face to everyone who gives their all to promote and develop our league". He added the onus is now on Drogheda United to pay for the damage caused by its fans.
Deputy Ó Murchú said while the vandalism has been rightly condemned, the reaction from Minister O'Donovan is "deeply unhelpful".
“Everyone is quite rightly united in our condemnation of the shameful scenes we witnessed but the threats that followed today from the Minister of Sport to withdraw funding are a knee-jerk reaction, and deeply unhelpful.
“Irish football has suffered from decades of underfunding. We simply cannot tolerate a situation where the behaviour of a small number of idiots is allowed to put long-awaited and very necessary government funding for the development of our league at risk.
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“Neither Dundalk nor Drogheda United have infinite resources for security, but the contribution both clubs make to their communities is incalculable," he said.
Deputy Ó Murchú called on the Minister and the Department for Sport to work with the FAI and Gardaí to "ensure the scenes we witnessed on Friday night are never repeated again".
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.
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