Published Saturday, 16 January 2010
Newry City 2 - 1 Larne - (Match abandoned after 82 minutes)
At that point, City led by two goals to one courtesy of Stephen Garrett's 12th minute opener and a sublime 25-yard lob from Matt Hazley.
Anto Lagan had equalised for the visitors in the first half but the real story was the mass brawl that erupted following Larne's second dismissal in as many minutes.
After captain Liam Hogan had been shown the red card for lifting his hands to Newry sub Darren King, Alan Reid suffered the same fate after diving in with a horrendous tackle on King 60 seconds later.
Larne Boss Paul Millar, former Newry manager, ran 40 yards to remonstrate with assistant referee Gareth Eakin before being sent off himself.
That prompted the fighting with Larne subs Gary Rafferty and Brian Neeson appearing to be in the thick of it.
Newry's Ross Black, a former Larne defender, was punched while trying to split the melee up.
Pictures also appear to show Rafferty and goalscorer Lagan aiming kicks at the head of Cullen Feeney while the Newry man lay prone on the ground. (See pictures)
At that point, Crangle had no option but to take the players off the pitch and it now remains to be seen what the IFA will do with regard to punishment.
Newry City: Gallagher, R Black, Feeney, Munster (King 71), McDonnell, Davidson, Hazley, Graham (Devlin 71), Garrett, Keegan, O'Connor.
Subs not used: Henderson, Keenan, Coleman
Larne: R Brown, Moore, Hogan, Marsh, White, M Brown, Fulton (McMenamin 62), Lagan, Rafferty (Thompson 79), Larmour, Reid.
Subs not used: Neeson, McConaghey, McNally
Referee: Raymond Crangle (Belfast)