Wicklow GAA has a new headache on its hands after a senior football championship quarter-final was marred by disgraceful scenes.

Players from Carnew and Rathnew were embroiled in several fistfights 10 minutes from the finish, and referee Declan Peppard dished out red cards to six players from the two teams.

Up to the flashpoint the exchanges were contested in a sporting spirit.The row was sparked in the 50th minute by an off-the-ball incident and what began as a fight between a small number of players escalated into rolling battles involving more players and people off the sideline.

At least four players, two from each side, were given straight red cards.

At the time Carnew were in the process of making substitutions. They were adamant they had substituted one of their redcarded players before he got the card.

Minutes after the row Carnew were down to 12 players as a defender saw red. Then just before the final whistle Rathnew found themselves playing with 12 players as one of their central players got his marching orders. Rathnew won the match 2-9 to 0-7.

Referee Peppard remained tight-lipped about the fighting but confirmed he would be submitting a full report to the competitions control committee.

Mick O’Hagan, chairman of the committee, said they would await the report and then deal with the matter.