{"id":329704,"date":"2026-03-05T05:25:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-05T05:25:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/329704\/"},"modified":"2026-03-05T05:25:08","modified_gmt":"2026-03-05T05:25:08","slug":"oriel-park-pitch-repairs-complete-after-flare-damage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/329704\/","title":{"rendered":"Oriel Park pitch repairs complete after flare damage"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Laura Hogan<\/a><\/p>\n

Repair works have been completed at Dundalk’s Oriel Park after the newly installed astroturf pitch was damaged by flares.<\/p>\n

The damage happened during a recent fixture between Dundalk FC and Drogheda United, when flares were thrown by Drogheda fans onto the new surface, leaving some 50 scorch marks behind.
A 12-year-old boy was also struck by a flare and sustained burns to his face.<\/p>\n

Both clubs condemned the incidents<\/a>, which sparked calls from the Minister of Sport Patrick O’Donovan TD<\/a> for the FAI to take action to stamp out the use of flares.<\/p>\n

Drogheda United said it would cover the full cost of the damage<\/a> and was also fined \u20ac15,000 by the League of Ireland’s disciplinary committee.<\/p>\n

Drogheda fans were also banned from attending their next four away games<\/a> since that Louth derby match last month.<\/p>\n

Today, the specialist contractor PST Sport has said that after a full assessment, it worked closely with Dundalk FC to restore the FIFA Quality Pro artificial pitch to “world class” standard.<\/p>\n

Listen to the RT\u00c9 Soccer podcast on Apple Podcasts<\/a>, Spotify<\/a> or wherever you get your podcasts<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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