Clon and Suttonians angered at final move from Lansdowne

BOTH Clonakilty and Suttonians rugby clubs have written to the IRFU to protest their anger and frustration over the decision not to play next Saturday’s Division 3 AIB League final at Lansdowne Road.

The two clubs qualified for the final with respective victories over Bruff and Wanderers on Saturday, but they have been incensed by the IRFU announcement that the Division 3 Final will be played at Anglesea Road on Saturday instead of at headquarters along with the Division One and Two finals. The union cited fears of excessive wear and tear on the pitch ahead of Ireland’s soccer international with Chile on May 24 as the reason for the switch.

Suttonians President Martin McEvoy last night described the decision as “a disgrace” and said it was not in the best interests of rugby that the game be moved from Lansdowne Road to Anglesea Road.

“It is only right and proper that the two clubs which have qualified for the Division 3 Final be allowed the opportunity of playing at Lansdowne Road which is the ‘holy ground’ for players who will probably never have the chance to do so again, particularly as the ground is set to be demolished at the end of this year,” he said.

Mr McEvoy said his club had written to the IRFU and expected a swift response, but admitted they were not confident of having the decision over-turned.

“It is very sad that in a year which has been designated by the IRFU as the Year of the Club that a decision of this nature has been taken. I don’t think it is in the best interests of rugby and I think that if the IRFU are going to be fair to both clubs, they should react positively to the points we are making,” he said.

Clonakilty PRO Roy Maguire said his club was “extremely disappointed and dissatisfied” by the decision.

“This is a major disservice to Irish rugby and we have written to the IRFU to express that view. I think they have made a decision based on the opinion of the grounds committee and they have not thought it through.

“We cannot see that 80 minutes of rugby is going to make a difference to the state of the playing surface for a friendly soccer international 11 days later,” he said.

He said a meeting of Division 2 and 3 clubs tomorrow night would discuss the issue, but it was hard to know what options were open to the two clubs.

Meanwhile, Dolphin and Terenure will line up at Lansdowne Road next Saturday after their respective victories over Young Munster and UCC on Saturday.

Dolphin beat Young Munster 26-24 thanks to a Barry Keeshan drop goal six minutes into injury time, while Terenure had a comfortable 55-14 win over the students at Lakelands.