A man playing in a football match was shot and wounded in the arm following an incident at a sports venue in Co Tipperary last night.
The incident happened shortly after 9pm in Rearcross during the second half of a match between Ballymackey Football Club and Rearcross Football Club.
Gardaí said the 32-year-old man had been participating in the soccer game being played under floodlights when the incident occurred.
Players and spectators reported hearing the player letting out a cry of pain before falling to the ground. They discovered to their shock that he had been shot in the arm.
The emergency services were alerted while club officials tended to the injured player and the league game was abandoned.
The injured man was treated at the scene by emergency services personnel and was then taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick for further assessment.
In a statement, Rearcross Football Club said: "All at Rearcross FC are totally shocked at the turn of events last night when our Junior B team were playing a Division 2 league game under lights and a very serious incident occurred.
"We are glad to say that our player is well and was discharged from hospital earlier this morning. We wish him a speedy recovery," said the statement.
Ballymackey FC Club Chairman George Haverty said it was a terrible shock for everyone but they hoped that the player would make a good recovery.
Mr Haverty said the North Tipperary and District League has offered players and club officials counselling.
He said the Rearcross facility is a great venue and busy every weekend with games under lights.
"We are very saddened to hear about the incident. We wish the player a speedy recovery and hope that gardaí find out who is responsible - and what happened - as soon as possible as there are games here under lights every weekend."
The scene has been preserved for forensic and technical examination and gardaí are appealing for witnesses.
They are particularly appealing to anyone who may have been hunting in the area at the time to come forward.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Nenagh Garda Station on 067-50450 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111.
