Div three contenders unhappy at final move

Clonakilty and Suttonians have issued a joint statement criticising the IRFU for moving their AIB League Division Three final from Lansdowne Road to Anglesea Road on Saturday.

“Out of respect and gratitude to the tremendous support provided by AIB to both of our clubs, we will continue to lobby the union to review their decision to enable us to fulfil our fixture on Saturday,” said Martin McEvoy, president of Suttonians.

“It is only a pity that the same level of respect has not been afforded to the clubs by the union”.

The president of Clonakilty, Kevin Dillon, added: “We have, all of us, players, coaches and supporters, invested huge time and effort throughout a long, arduous and expensive season.

“To have our day in the sun, in the company of the division one and two finalists, snatched from us by the union at the last minute is a bitter disappointment to all concerned, particularly the families and youngsters who were looking forward to cheering on their local heroes in the home of Irish rugby.

“The difficulty in fulfilling the fixture continues for us unless it returns to Lansdowne Road as originally committed to by the IRFU and sponsored and promoted by AIB, even to this day, in the ATM machines at least in Clonakilty.”