'There has to be a blanket ban on the pyro' until protocols are put in place - Graham Gartland

In an ideal world, the aftermath of Friday's clash between Drogheda United and Shelbourne would have focused on an entertaining night on the pitch and a dramatic ending following Sean Boyd's late equaliser for Damien Duff's current SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division leaders.

However, deep into stoppage time the football was overshadowed by an unseemly incident at Weavers Park after linesman Dermot Broughton was struck by an object - which appears to have been a smoke bomb - thrown from the section housing the Shels away support.

The turn-of-events prompted referee Rob Hennessy to pause the match, before taking both teams off the field while Broughton was medically assessed.

After a 15-minute stoppage, Broughton returned – but to the other side of the pitch – as the game's final seconds were played out.

In the aftermath, Shelbourne and manager Duff emphatically condemned the actions of the individual who threw the object.

It's far from the first time that such an incident has occurred. Indeed just a few weeks ago, Bohemians defender Cian Byrne was struck in the arm after a flare was thrown from the stand where his own side's supporters were congregated during a match away at St Patrick's Athletic.

Speaking on the RTÉ Soccer Podcast, former Drogheda United and Longford Town centre-back Graham Gartland said Friday's incident at Weavers Park was another reminder of the need to clamp down fully on the use of pyrotechnics by fans inside League of Ireland grounds for the safety of players, officials and fellow supporters.

"It's completely unacceptable and first off, fair play to the linesman Dermot for coming back out and finishing the game as well," he said.

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