Seriously IRFU, it’s long past time to give club game respect

Joey Carbery and Darren Sweetnam played in last year’s Ulster Bank final before going on to great things this season, writes Donal Lenihan.

This weekend marks the culmination of a season’s long graft and commitment when Clontarf and Cork Constitution play their 20th and final game in Division 1A of the Ulster Bank League, contesting the showcase final on the hallowed turf of Lansdowne Road in a clash to be screened live on RTÉ.

Yet few outside the respective clubs even know or care about the decider. It barely features on the IRFU horizon either, apart from the fact a few committee members will be summoned to appear on the day to show cause.