It's been one of the more curious GAA stories of 2019 so far, but it finally looks to be coming to a conclusion once and for all, after a re-fixture was ordered to finally put the contentious issue to bed.
It's been sixteen days since the game that never was between the two cross-town rivals from Limerick - UL and LIT
The Fresher Championship Final between University of Limerick and Limerick IT was due to be played on neutral turf at Mary Immaculate College in the city on March 13th. However, when the teaching college's playing surface was deemed unplayable that's when the problems started.
A decision was taken that a coin toss would be the fairest way to determine which of the two competing sides would host the game, after which it was determined that IT would host the game.
However, whilst match officials and the Limerick IT players turned up at the school's sports facility on the Old Cratloe Road on that Wednesday afternoon, the UL players were at MIC's Tailteann complex some five miles away on the other side of the River Shannon.
Nice crowd here in Moylish for LIT v UL in All Ireland Freshers Hurling Final. Still just one team #GAA #LLSport pic.twitter.com/ikw1XL3CN7
— Jerome O'Connell (@JeromeSport) March 13, 2019
Cork ref Cathal McAllister threw the sliothar in, waited 15 minutes and with no sign of the UL side, the match was awarded to LIT. A couple of days later, that decision was ratified by the Higher Education Council and they were subsequently awarded the title.
However, after further discussions last night, it now seems that matters will be settled on the pitch after LIT offered their opponents the opportunity to face them in a rescheduled fixture.
All very fair, but you can just imagine the fall out should UL end up coming away victorious. Sometimes, things like this could only happen in Ireland...
