By Ciaran Woods

c.woods@gaeliclife.com

THERE seems to be no end in sight to the ongoing Sigerson Cup saga, as appeals and counter-appeals continue to throw the prestigious competition into disarray.

Almost a month after UUJ played their semi-final against Dublin IT, the competition is still no further forward and the Poly are no closer to even finding out who their final opponents will be, never mind when or where the decider will be played.

Carlow's appeal has been turned down by the DRA, and now the option rests with Cork IT as to whether or not they too will lodge an appeal over the eligibility of the Garda players. Should they do so, then the entire process will start again, with anything up to three stages in the appeal before the DRA once again make a final call on it. If Cork decide not to appeal, then the Garda versus GMIT match could proceed next week, with the tentative date suggested for the Sigerson Cup final being Wednesday April 9.

According to UUJ President John Farrell, it's been an extremely frustrating time for the Poly as they try to remain focused for the final despite the madness and distractions going on around them.

"On the weekend assigned for the semi-finals and final, the whole reasoning for our game with DIT going ahead, or so we were told, was to save the integrity of the competition. I have to say that we're becoming increasingly frustrated that it took two full weeks for the DRA to hear the Carlow IT appeal, when we know that in the past individuals and county boards have been able to get a DRA to meet within days, never mind weeks. It's all terribly frustrating."

Any subsequent appeal naturally poses a serious dilemma for the Higher Education Council. If the HEC throw the Garda out, then the Garda will appeal and could get back in again, which would then mean Cork IT once again taking the case to the DRA. If the HEC decide to follow the DRA ruling on the previous appeal, and therefore allow the Garda to proceed, then Cork IT would be expected to take the case forward to the higher appeal authorities up to and perhaps including the DRA.

"The ones who are suffering in all of this are ourselves and GMIT. We have absolutely no control over what happens, it's outside of our control, and all we can do is to keep our heads down and try to prepare as best we can for the final. The Under-21 championship and National Leagues are in full swing, clubs are also back, and it's very difficult for the boys to keep any sort of focus on a Sigerson Cup final. What we need is a date, and to know who we're playing, so that we have something to build towards.

"Mickey (Moran) is actually in the States at the minute, he had a prior commitment with his family which he booked for now because he should have been free from football and available to go. For instance, our boys tried to train as usual on Wednesday night, but we were missing a substantial number of players who were tied up with two county Under-21 semi-finals. So it's been very difficult, and since the DIT match I don't think we've had any opportunity to get all of the lads together.

"Looming large on the horizon there are also exams, crucial exams which we cannot allow football to interfere with. There will come a definite cut-off point, which we have said is April 15, beyond which point this saga cannot continue because boys will be up to their eyes with exam commitments. So the pressure is very much on to get these games played."

Even if those games are played of course, there's no guarantee that will be the end of the matter, as should either GMIT or UUJ subsequently lose to Garda College then they would be fully within their rights to lodge an appeal of their own. That would drag the events out even longer, and drag the competition even further into the mire.

It is clear that the issues need to be addressed by the authorities to ensure that such a situation does not arise again. As a member of the HEC, Farrell for one is insisting measures be taken.

"These issues must be addressed over the summer so that there is absolutely no confusion or opportunity for problems to arise in subsequent competitions. What I have called for is for the HEC to set up under an independent chairman to look specifically at the two issues of eligibility and registration.

"I believe that the cut-off for registrations should be October 31, so if you're not in the college by that date then you're not eligible to play in the Sigerson Cup. There are also the problems over eligibility, with people doing credits and people doing blocks of courses. The rule allowing the Garda recruits to play is also going to have to be looked at in light of the DRA ruling.

"Everyone involved in Third Level is well aware of the spirit of that rule, it says that there is an allowance for 104 weeks, that is two years of their recruitment course. The idea that you can come in, play a year, not play for three years and then play another year is certainly not what that rule was intended for."

Despite all the problems, Farrell insists that the Poly boys remain fully confident and focused on winning the blue riband competition... whenever it might be.

"If we win it, it will not have lost any of its gloss whatsoever. I suppose that from a Carlow point of view, as a weekend and as a competition it has probably lost some of its shine, but should we win then that will matter little. If you win a Sigerson medal then you win a Sigerson medal, nothing else will matter and it will still be cherished just as much."