Trinity College are up in arms with both the IRFU and Shannon after being forced to play their All-Ireland Under-20 Cup final against the Limerick club and their rearranged AIB league first-division game against Carlow at the same time tomorrow.
Ironically, they were placed in a contrasting position three years ago when acceding to a request to have the under-20 final deferred for 48 hours because Buccaneers had a rearranged AIL game the same afternoon. Though Carlow were willing to bring forward tomorrow's first-division game in College Park to 1pm, Shannon declined to move the under-20 cup final in Dubarry Park from its scheduled 2.30pm slot.
Trinity pleaded with the IRFU but the union cited their law that when sides cannot agree on a change the original time applies. And so in addition to the four players who might have been able to double up, Tony Smeeth, who coaches both teams, Hugh Smith, team doctor to both teams, their physios and their fans must choose between the two games.
"I cannot believe we've been put in this position," said an irate Smeeth yesterday. "It has created a terrible dilemma for a lot of our supporters, most of whom will feel obliged to support the senior team."
Trinity must beat Carlow and Cork Constitution in their final two games to have a chance of retaining their first division status, a big ask.
The college are also seeking their third under-20 cup win in four years, whereas Shannon, for all their senior supremacy, are chasing their first under-20 crown after losing finals in 1998 and 2000. Trinity beat Garryowen 27-10 in last week's semi-final, and Shannon beat UCD 18-6.
