Glendermott have withdrawn their youth side from the All-Ireland U-17 Finals day that was due to be held in Railway Union next week.

The Rectory side won the North West U-18 Cup by beating Brigade by five wickets last month, thereby earning the right to represent the region in the All-Ireland competition.

Unfortunately though, the Cricket Ireland event is at Under-17 level, with only players born after July 1st 2007 being eligible.

This would have meant three of the Glendermott team that has played all year would have missed out on the biggest day in the club's youth history.

"We won as a team and we are all in it together or not at all," said a club representative.

"It's heartbreaking for the youngsters and their parents as we had booked a bus and were looking forward to travelling to Dublin.

"This isn't the first time this has happened with these Ireland youth competitions, so you'd have thought they would have learned their lessons of the past.

"Why are the North West running a qualifying competition at Under-18 level for an Under-17 tournament? It doesn't make any sense. They talk about values and child protection, but there wasn't much of that evident in this instance."

Glendermott were due to play the Munster champions at Park Avenue in the semi-final, so it now seems likely that they will gain a bye to the final.