Local schools ready for latest cup challenge
The Crescent Comprehensive College senior rugby squad for 2012
We take a look at the Limerick teams competing in the Munster Schools Senior Cup this year
CASTLETROY COLLEGE
Management: Mike Story (head coach); Barry Murphy (assistant coach); John Staunton (assistant coach); Brendan Colleran (strength and conditioning); Declan English (manager)
Star man: Conor Bonfil - No 8 who was on the Munster Schools U-18 team. Was involved last year and should really be to the fore this time around
Representative players: Ben Burns (Munster U-18), Conor Bonfil (Munster U-18), Jonathan McDonnell (Munster U-18)
Last season: Drew 10-10 with CBC in the first-round game, but were deemed the ‘losers’ as the Cork side scored the first try. Were beaten 10-3 by Crescent in the quarter-final proper
If they were an Irish celebrity, they’d be: Kenny Egan. Made it big in 2008 but have struggled since for attention. Could come again
Prospects: Their first round game is against St Munchin’s, the only all-Limerick clash. Hard to see them winning that one and, if they lose, their likely opponents are last year’s champions Rockwell. They could push Munchin’s but they’re up against it
Any other business: Peter Clohessy’s son Luke and Sean Cronin’s brother Liam are both involved. They’d a mixed pre-season, beating Ardscoil Ris and St Munchin’s, but then well beaten by Ardscoil and PBC
SQUAD: Brandon Foley Friel*, Mark Kennedy, Stephen Shinners, Tom Kelly*, Liam Cronin, Pat Bermingham, John Hourigan, David Butler, Ben Burns, Conor Bonfil*, Jack Costello, Ger Sheehan, Luke Clohessy*, Sean Moran*, Eoghan Clancy, William Shanahan*, Killian Carroll*, Jonathan McDonnell*, David Grant*, Jack Murphy, Noel Clohessy, Robbie Sweeney, Jack Tiernan, Jack O’Neill, Rhys Joyce, Cian Malone, Mark McCarthy, Darragh Kennedy, Paul Butler
* Indicates a player involved last year
ARDSCOIL RIS
Management: Noel Davis (head coach), Martin McPhail and Francis Broderick (team managers), Fergal Lyons (strength and conditioning), Gary Walsh (forwards coach), Kevin Long (school director of rugby)
Star man: Ronan McKenna - outhalf Robbie Burke is a fine player but McKenna, at full-back, is a great operator too
Representative players: Patrick Kearns (Munster U-18), Conor Glynn (Munster U-18)
Last season: Were beaten 15-5 by local rivals Crescent in the opening round before losing 8-3 to eventual champions Rockwell in the quarter-final
If they were an Irish celebrity, they’d be: Amy Huberman. Great in their own right but a lower profile than the main act
Any other business: Have already got a cup win under their belt following last week’s 13-6 win over Midleton College. Have some nice young players breaking through from the junior team that reached last year’s final but rugby is now playing second fiddle to hurling in the school
Prospects: CBC represent a huge obstacle in their first game, especially as that game is in Cork. A likely quarter-final with St Munchin’s will define their season.
Squad: Robbie Burke, Colm Noonan, Patrick Kearns, Craig Irwin, Jack O’Halloran, Jamie Fitzgibbon, Cathal Flanagan, Conor Glynn, Sean Guerin, Luke Guinane, Paul Obande, Barry O’Donnell, Luke Guinane, Colin Ryan, Craig Irwin, Anthony Keane, Dylan Kelly, Jack Stokes, Robbie Deegan, Luke McGrath, Tony Cusack, Joe Murray, Philip McNamara, Frank Bradshaw-Ryan, Peter Reidy, Ronan McKenna, Liam McMahon, Conor Mulqueen, John Stack, Andrew O’Byrne, Evan O’Callaghan, Jack O’Connor, David O’Halloran, Darragh O’Shea, Paul O’Connell, Gavin Farrell, Ciaran Power
CRESCENT COLLEGE
Management: Tony Trehy, Conan Doyle, Len Dinneen, Niall O’Shea, Amy Judge
Star man: Niall Horan - the prop has played with the Munster U-20s this season and also trained with the Irish U-19s. Captains this Crescent team and has a lot of experience for this level
Representative players: Niall Horan (Munster U-20), Elliott Fitzgerald (Munster U-19), Greg Barry (Munster U-18), Gearoid Lyons (Munster U-18), Greg O’Shea (Munster U-18), Jack Dinneen (Munster U-18)
Last season: Beat Ardscoil Ris 15-5 in the opening round before getting the better of Castletroy, 10-3, in the quarter-final. Beaten 23-12 by PBC in the semi-final
If they were an Irish celebrity, they’d be: Ryan Tubridy. Light on their feet but well able to mix it with the big boys
Prospects: Their opening round game against PBC is a huge game. Win it, and the competition could open up in front of them with a quarter-final against Glenstal and a possible semi-final against St Munchin’s. Lose it and they face a do-or-die game against CBC
Any other business: Having won the last two junior cups and reached last year’s senior semi-final, on paper they’re Limerick’s best prospect. Greg O’Shea and Jack Dinneen are sons of coaches Len Dinneen and Niall O’Shea who won a senior cup with Crescent in 1983. O’Shea is also a talented athlete and ran for Ireland in the European championships last summer
Squad: Greg Barry*, Conor Beatty, Eoin Casserly, Brendan Costello, David Culhane, Diarmaid Dee*, Jack Dinneen*, Elliot Fitzgerald, Timothy Fitzgibbon, James Frawley, Seaghán Gleeson*, Karl Hanley, Niall Horan*, Nigel Kerr, Peter Liston*, Seán McGee, Cathal Monaghan, Ronan O’Doherty*, Dairmaid O’Sullivan, Joseph Purcell, Cian Scott, Cillian Rea, Jay Kavanagh, Mike O’Donnell, Cormac Blake, James Green, Ed Barry, Gearoid Lyons, JJ O Neill, Greg O’Shea
GLENSTAL ABBEY
Management: Mike Prendergast and James Hickey (coaches), Br Matthew Corkery (manager)
Star man: Luke Bradley - the outhalf is a nice player and was on last year’s team as well. A year older, he’ll be even better this time
Representative players: Ian Kenny (Munster U-18), Ian McCarthy (Munster U-19), Tom Ryan (Munster U-18)
Last season: Were beaten 21-5 by PBC in the opening round. CBC beat them 13-3 in the quarter-finals
If they were an Irish celebrity, they’d be: Michael Noonan. Working with small numbers but battling on bravely nonetheless
Prospects: Play champions Rockwell in the opening round and while the Tipp side aren’t as strong as they were last year, it’s still a big ask for a school with such limited playing numbers. Lose that game, and they’ve a daunting challenge against PBC. Have a good backline and if they get good ball, they could cause problems
Any other business: Ian Kenny, who was with the Munster U-18s this year, is a busy man. He’s also with the Waterford minor hurlers. They won six of their ten pre-season games, including the city league final
Squad: Kevin Lynch*, Luke Bradley*, Michael O’Riordan*, James Igoe, David Higgins*, Cal McCarthy, Ian Kenny, Robert Shanahan*, Ian McCarthy*, James Hanley, Sean Gleeson (captain), James Ryan, Blake Dunne, Andrew Devereaux*, Tom Ryan*, Kieran Grennan, Cormac MacDonagh, Richard O’Hara, Andrew Boland, Rossa Dooley, Eoin Hurley, Conor Hughes, Hugh Connors, Jack Boland, Kevin O’Keeffe
ST MUNCHIN’S
Management: John Broderick (acting head coach/manager), Andrew Burke (backs coach), Ger Burke (forwards coach)
Star man: Lee Nicholas - Munster U-19 back-row player and team captain. Also involved with last year’s team
Representative players: Evan Ryan (Munster U-19), David Begley (Munster U-17), Luke O’Halloran (Munster U-17), Gavin Ryan (Munster U-19), Steven Collins (Munster U-17), Ben Kilkenny (Munster U-17), Darren Ryan (Munster U-19), Lee Nicholas (Munster U-19), Ryan Tsang (Munster U-19), Cormac O’Donnell (Ireland and Munster U-18), Dan Goggin (Munster U-18), Mark Long (Munster U-17)
Last season: Lost to Rockwell 33-12 before then losing 17-6 to PBC
If they were an Irish celebrity, they’d be: Colin Farrell. Produce quality work every so often. Have a bit of a tough streak too.
Prospects: Have a star-studded squad and a reasonable draw. Beat Castletroy and it should be Ardscoil in the quarter-final. Could well be dark horses for outright glory
Any other business: Impressed in pre-season and have a proven cup-winning coach in John Broderick. The Ryan triplets - Evan, Darren and Gavin - have all played Munster U-19 this season
Squad: Daithi Byrne, Evan Ryan *, Daniel Montgomery *, Daryl Collopy, Shane Houlihan, David Begley, Eoghan Kelly*, Luke O’Halloran, Gavin Ryan*, Cian Dowling, Shane O’Mullan, Ezra Nugent, Matthew McSweeney*, Evan Tierney, Bill Molloy, Gearard Powell, Steven Collins, Ben Kilkenny, Daren Ryan, Lee Nicholas, Ryan Tsang, Tom O’Neill, Cormac O Donnell, Dan Goggin*, Sean Beatty, Gary Bateman, Ben Nugent*, Sean Beatty, James Clancy, Edward O’Keefe, Mark Long, Kevin Phelan, Jay-ar Cusipag, Diarmuid Morrissey
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Friday 25 May 2012
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