A 21-year-old man has been acquitted at Trim Circuit Criminal Court of assaulting an opponent during a GAA match.
Darren Morgan from Rockfield in Kells had denied a charge of assaulting Shane Ryan causing him harm during the 2009 Meath minor football semi-final.
Mr Ryan received injuries to his scrotum in the incident. He had to be taken from the football grounds in an ambulance to Navan General Hospital, where he spent two days.
He also had to have stitches inserted in his scrotum to close the open wound.
Mr Ryan had told the court he was assaulted after he scored a goal for his team, St. Vincent's Curraha. He was then approached by Mr Morgan who was playing for the other team, Round Tower.
He said Mr Morgan grabbed his scrotum, squeezed hard and then pulled down on it.
Counsel for the defendant, Breffni Gordon SC, said his client acknowledged the incident had taken place however said it did not happen as Mr Ryan had said.
Instead he said his client had accidentally grabbed him while trying instead to grab his jersey. The incident was not intentional.
After deliberating for nearly two hours, the jury of seven men and five women acquitted Mr Morgan of the assault charge and he was told he was free to go.
