THE PRESIDENT OF THE GAA, Christy Cooney, has insisted that the Louth fans who attacked referee Martin Sludden after last week’s Leinster final will be banned from Croke Park for life.

Gardaí are reviewing CCTV recordings and RTÉ’s footage from the aftermath of the game, which saw the referee physically attacked by angry Louth supporters and a steward hit on the head by a bottle after a dramatic defeat to Meath.

The incident revived the GAA’s pleas to fans to keep off the pitch when matches are finished.

“It is the Gardaí’s responsibility to take it [the investigations] on from here,” Cooney said. “It is out responsibility at the same time to dish out appropriate punishment to people that have belittled our association.”

Cooney refused to rule out the possibility of erecting fences around the perimeter of the pitch to keep fans off it, and said the GAA remained firmly committed to presenting the All-Ireland trophies on the pitch without fans.

“I think last Sunday was a watershed for our supporters, to see the behaviour that took place after the game. I think it has reinforced that we need to ensure patrons stay off our pitch at the end of matches.”

Conney added that he would have liked to see the controversial match replayed, but stopped short at suggesting Croke Park should take a more active role in ensuring such games would be replayed in future.

Both counties had criticised the GAA for a lack of support in the issue, but Cooney said he could not “tear up the rule book” and order replays in some games while not doing so in others.