Crescent look to build on impressive junior record
The Castletroy College team who have qualified for the Munster Schools Junior Cup quarter-final after wins over St Clement's and Rockwell College
As Crescent College go for three-in-a-row, Colm Kinsella looks ahead to this year’s Munster Schools Junior Cup
HOLDERS Crescent College Comprehensive begin their bid for a hat-trick of Avonmore Munster Schools Junior Cup titles on Wednesday next against a strong PBC side at Dooradoyle.
Crescent were the dominant force in the province at U-16 level in 2010 and 2011, but the Dooradoyle school face a big task if they are to complete three successive Junior Cup wins on March 25.
One of the main threats to Crescent’s ambitions is expected to come from Castletroy College, Junior Cup winners in 2008.
Indeed, it would be fitting in many ways if Castletroy were to claim the Cup at the end of next month as the Newtown school has sponsored a new cup for the competition winners in memory of the late Eamonn Mulcahy.
A former teacher at Castletroy College, Eamonn Mulcahy died of cancer at the age of 32 in December 2010. Eamonn Mulcahy had coached the Castletroy junior side to cup success in 2008. The old cup, which was introduced in 1932, has been retired to the Munster Rugby Museum.
Castletroy College have already played two games in the Junior Cup in recent weeks. The side secured their place in the last eight of the competition thanks to a 13-3 preliminary round win over St Clement’s College.
And this Wednesday, Castletroy travelled to Clonmel to face Rockwell College in a quarter-final, round one, tie.
A change in the competition format introduced in 2009 means that the loser’s of the quarter-final, round one, ties will have a second chance to progress to the semi-finals later in the month.
Castletroy’s Junior Cup side is captained by talented scrum-half Rory Cunningham, who is playing at this level for a second successive season, and he forms an impressive half-back partnership with out-half Conor Linnehan.
Exciting number eight Ronan Murphy is another survivor from the 2011 Junior Cup team, while the likes of loosehead prop Eoghan Fitzgerald and centre Stuart Hoare are other key figures in the squad.
Castletroy’s impressive backroom team of head coach Richard Feeney and assistant coaches Martin Bourke, Pat Mullane and Chris Murphy have the side well prepared for their Cup campaign.
Castletroy won the McCarthy and City Cups last year beating CBC at Musgrave Park. The Newtown school beat Glenstal Abbey to win the City Cup just before Christmas and will fancy their chances of being involved at the business end of the competition.
St Munchin’s College open their campaign away to CBC in Musgrave Park on Wednesday next, February 8.
It’s now 12 years since the Corbally side lifted the trophy although St Munchin’s remain genuine contenders and were finalists in both 2006 and 2009.
Second row forwards John Foley and Nathan Nugent, along with back rower Killian Browne are members of well-known rugby families. John Foley’s father captained their junior cup team in the mid 80’s, Killians father also playing Junior Cup in the 80’s. Nathan Nugent’s brothers, Ezra and Ben are on the St Munchin’s senior cup side this year. The Junior Cup side is captained by flanker Sean O’Dea and he is supported by his vice-captain hooker Peter Meyer, whose brother Robert won a senior cup medal in 2006. Shane Halpin and Jonathan O’Hanlon provide genuine pace out wide in the backs.
Glenstal Abbey consistently punch above their weight in the competition and the Murroe side reached the semi-final last season before bowing out at the hands of eventual winners Crescent College.
Along the way Glenstal scored a terrific 16-10 away win over traditional Cup heavyweights CBC.
This season’s Junior Cup side is captained by the talented Max Ryan, with the pack led by Ben Clancy.
The side will lack for nothing in terms of preparation with their backroom team consisting of Aiden McNulty and Eddie Montgomery.
Limerick City Cup finalists Glenstal Abbey face Ardscoil Ris in their opening fixture at Tom Clifford Park on Thursday, February 9.
Ardscoil Ris boast an impressive record in the competition over the past decade winning the Cup in both 2003 and 2005 and reaching the final again last March.
Three members of the Ardscoil Ris side which play in last season’s final are involved once again. The trip includes Shane Fenton, who captains the side from number eight, Kelvin Browne, a key ball carrier who scored a try in the 2011 decider, and the highly influential Killian Bracken.
Out-half David O’Mahony is an exciting talent, with the ability to control the game from the pivotal half-back berth.
Two members of Ardscoil’s McCarthy Cup (U-15) winning side from earlier this season, Jerry McCabe, who captained that side, and Jack O’Donnell are also likely to feature for the North Circular Road side this season.
Ardscoil’s impressive backroom team includes Antone Meaney, Mossie Lawler, Cathal Daly, Chris Delooze, Gareth O’Hanlon, Tom Walsh and Jamie Tuohy.
Three-in-a-row seeking Crescent College have a young side this year with no ‘survivors’ from the Cup winning side of last March. Up to five members of the squad were involved in their McCarthy Cup (U-15) side this year
The side, which begins the defence of the Cup against PBC at Dooradoyle on Wednesday next, is captained by impressive prop Mike McGann.
Other key players during the Dooradoyle side include back-row forward Sean Fitzgerald and centre Calvin Nash.
Crescent are sure to well prepared for the visit of Pres’ and their impressive backroom team includes two former Cup medal winners with the school in Billy O’Shea and Eddie Barry.
Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup
Quarter-finals round one
Wednesday, February 1: (A) Rockwell College 12 Castletroy College 14, Clanwilliam Park
Wednesday, February 8: (B) Crescent College Comprehensive v PBC, Dooradoyle, 3.30pm
Wednesday, February 8: (C) CBC v St Munchin’s College, Musgrave Park, 3pm
Thursday, February 9: (D) Ardscoil Ris v Glenstal, Clifford Park, 3pm
Quarter-finals PROPER
Tuesday, February 29 - Thursday March 1
Castletroy College V Loser B
Winner B V Loser C
Winner C V Loser D
Winner D V Rockwell College
Semi-finals: March 14
Final: March 25 (In Musgrave Park)
SQUAD PROFILES
Ardscoil Ris
squad: Kelvin Brown, Paul McNamara, Shane Fenton, David O’Mahony, Kevin Danagher, Killian Bracken, Zack Hyland, Diarmuid Scannell, Liam Brock, Jack Sexton, Pierse Lyons, Jerry McCabe, Jack O’Donnell, Ronan Lynch, Ryan Earls, Killian Ryan, Eoghan Ryan, Tom Walsh, Liam Ryan, Padraig de Brun, Darragh Ryan, Lloyd Whyte, Daire English, Andrew Leyden, Fionn Larkin, Dylan McMahon, Robbie Graham, Gavin Hogan, Conor Fitzgerald, Robert Leonard, Liam Quirke, James Shorten, Cian Quinlan, Conor Quigley, Kyle McCarthy, Eoin Hurley, Kevin Dunne, Barra O’Byrne, David Noonan, Dylan Hennessy, Andy Coffey, Alan Sheedy, Billy Hoare, Hugh Bourke, Chulann Ryan.
Management team: Antone Meaney, Mossie Lawler, Cathal Daly, Chris Delooze, Gareth O’Hanlon, Tom Walsh and Jamie Tuohy.
Castletroy College
SQUAD: Eoghan Fitzgerald, David Kennedy, Sean Shinners, Mike Finucane, Joe Doyle, Tom Morrissey, Shane O’Hara, Brian Murphy, Chris Carey, Evan Slattery, Mark O’Mara, Lorcan Lyons, Barry Hurley, David Rowsome, Niall O’Shea, Ronan Murphy, Diarmuid Hickey, Rory Cunningham (C), Ross Kennedy, Conor Fleming, Conor Linehan, Stuart Hore, Barry Nash, Tom Ryan, Paddy Morrissey, Sean McBrearty, David Garry, Jamie Porter, Brian Donnovan, Peter Moloney
MANAGEMENT TEAM: Head Coach: Richard Feeney; Assistant Coaches: Martin Bourke, Pat Mullane, Chris Murphy Strength & Conditioning: Lorna Barry.
St Munchin’s College
SQUAD: Eoin Brewitt, Killian Brown, Corey Wells, Aaron Fitzgerald, John Foley, Shane Halpin, Jake Healy, Darragh Hynes, John Quinlivan, Thomas Madden, Hugo McDonald, Bobby Price, Daragh McSweeney, Peter Meyer, Eric Mulcahy, Patrick Murnane, Aaron Nunan, Shane O’Sullivan, Tadhg O’Connor, Sean O’Dea, Dylan O’Dwyer, Jonathan O’Hanlon, Kieran Bennett, Ryan O’Sullivan-Glynn, Jordan Prenderville, Anton Sheehy, Jamie Kennedy.
Glenstal Abbey
Jack Stafford, Michael Boland, Ben Clancy, Bernard Cosgrave, Tim Costigan, Killian Glynn, Colm Hogan, Ryan Johnston, David Kenny, James MacCarthy, Jamie McAleese, Christopher McEnery, Max Ryan (Capt), Eoin Ryan, Gearoid Fitzpatrick, Anonio Correa, Joe Hartnett, William McGann, Ian Molloy, Neilus Mulvihill, John Murphy, George O’Hara, Sean O’Sullivan, John Riggs-Miller, Matthew Ryan, Michael Sweetman.
MANAGEMENT: Coaches: Aiden McNulty and Eddie Montgomery.
Crescent College Comprehensive
squad: Mike McGann (Capt), Sean hensey, Caolan Moloney, Evan Prendergast, Cian Reale, Andrew Harrison, Owain Quinlan, Conor Slattery, Sean Fitzgerald, Sean Naughton, Philip Spillane, Jack Harrington, Val McDermott, Mark Varley, Calvin Nash, Shane Eades, Gary O’Sullivan, Glen Dickinson, Billy O’Hora, Daniel O’Keeffe, Diarmuid McDonnell, Eoin McDonnell, Sean Naughton, Ansain Thai, Evan Moloney, Brian McNamara, Bryan McNamara.
Management team: Billy O’Shea, Eddie Barry, Dave Nolan. Manager; John Gavin.
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