As expected, the IRFU yesterday rejected appeals by Shannon and Garryowen to postpone tonight's re-arranged Division One derbies in which the Limerick duo will be hosts to Cork Constitution and Young Munster. The show goes on therefore, with all four endeavouring to muster teams together for the second of three matches in eight days amid the shadow of Munster's European Cup semi-final against Toulouse on Saturday week.
Only Shannon are resigned to their fate, whereas the other three remain in contention for the playoffs, while two of the other clubs in contention for the top four, namely Lansdowne and Ballymena, also stated their objections to these back fixtures being deferred again to some time after Saturday's concluding full round of matches.
A brief IRFU statement revealed: "Representations were made on behalf of Garryowen, Shannon, Lansdowne and Ballymena. After lengthy consideration of each of the submissions, the decision of the Appeals Committee was to reject the appeals and confirm that the fixtures will be played on 26th April 200." In response, a Garryowen official described it as "a sad day for Irish rugby. The foundations of the game have certainly been tampered with. It's all left a very sour taste down here and not just with us."
Garryowen reckon that the estimated loss of revenue incurred by the club, as a result of its most attractive fixture being moved from a Saturday to a midweek night, will be in the region of £40,000-plus. Despite that, they've been led to believe that the option of seeking compensation from the Union is not permitted.
The Dooradoyle game has been put back to 7.0, with the Shannon-Constitution match taking place at 7.30 in Thomond Park. Garryowen's mood has not been lightened by the facial injury which David Wallace sustained last Saturday at Dungannon, requiring 17 stitches to a deep wound just above the eye.
"It was one of the worst blood injuries I've ever seen in rugby," claimed the ex-English flanker and Garryowen coach John Hall. "It was pretty horrendous and he could easily have lost his eye. It was definitely a stamp on the face but given the benefit of the doubt you have to say it was accidental."
Wallace is thus ruled out of tonight's game and almost certainly from Saturday's home match with Ballymena as well - indeed he must even be considered doubtful for Munster's European Cup semi-final in 10 days' time.
Lock Shane Leahy (hamstring) is also doubtful while Hall is resigned to being without Keith Wood again, although he is reasonably well covered with Pat Humphreys at hooker for the fifth successive game, Fergus Costello and David Peters as back-up in the second row, and a number of options in the back row, such as Andrew Bermingham and Colin Varley. Furthermore, Hall expects to have his Munster contingent of backs (Dominic Crotty, Killian Keane, Jeremy Staunton and Tom Tierney) tonight, whatever about Saturday.
Besides, Young Munster have been hit even harder. Aside from having the two Clohessys ruled out again, and most probably for Saturday's away game at Lansdowne also, Ian Dillon is automatically suspended tonight following his red card against Buccaneers while their other first-choice flanker Ger Earls is sidelined with a shoulder injury. The IRFU's Disciplinary Committee will conduct hearings into the dismissals of Dillon and Buccaneers' Donal Rigney tomorrow, when they might also view a video of that abrasive televised encounter at Tom Clifford Park.
Shannon, not surprisingly, were rather more resigned to their fate and to tonight's re-arranged game going ahead. In addition to the sidelined John Hayes, John Lacey, Colm and Paul McMahon, a host of others have joined their casualty list, namely Marcus Horan, Mark McDermott, Rhys Ellison, Mick Galwey, Anthony Foley and John O'Neill.
Asked what team he would be fielding 24 hours in advance of this game, coach Pat Murray laughed: "That's a good question." He clearly hadn't an iota but conceded that Shannon will probably be significantly under-strength.
Constitution, too, have their woes, albeit comparatively minor ones, with Ian Murray (thigh injury) and Conor Mahony (fractured sinus) definitely out, but this is offset by the return from FIRA World under-19 duty of their number eight/IRFU development officer Ultan O'Callaghan.
Coach Michael Bradley is also hopeful of having his Munster contingent available again tonight, though whether that will apply for a third time in eight days away to St Mary's on Saturday - should Constitution still be in the running for a top four place - he conceded was "a conundrum." Meanwhile, the Munster coach Declan Kidney was also adopting a "wait and see" approach to this vexed issue.
Nor are the controversies liable to end this evening - mindful of Saturday's final round of matches, when six or seven clubs will still be in the play-off frame while Clontarf and DLSP are also seeking to avoid the relegation play-off. Mass withdrawals or sudden loss of interest due to having nothing tangible to play for, could again affect other concerned Division One clubs as well.
For example, DLSP coach Phil Werahiko is almost resigned to Shannon fielding a weakened team at home to Clontarf (three points adrift of DLSP in last place) on Saturday while his team are entertaining play-off hopefuls Terenure. "I'd hope that being a home match Shannon would have a certain pride in their performance and would want to finish on a high," said Werahiko yesterday, "but the bottom line is that we've just got to ignore what happens there and go out and try to win."
DLSP have slight concerns over place-kicking prop Mark Kavanagh and hooker Simon O'Donnell but expect to be at full strength, as do Terenure despite a slight concern over winger Shane Cullen. Similarly St Mary's expect to be at full-strength for the visit of Constitution, as do Clontarf, Lansdowne and Ballymena, though none have finalised their line-ups.
