Schools Cups 2014

[ormond lad]

Draws to be made in the next few minutes
May as well start thread. Who do people tip for this year?
Blackrock look very good at senior level as do Michaels. Any others people feel to challenge for the title?

[ormond lad]

Junior Cup
Newbridge v Castleknock
Belvedere v Gonzaga
Monkstown v Blackrock
Clongowes v Pres Bray
St Marys v St Michaels
Q1 v St Gerards
Q2 v CUS
Kilkenny v Terenure

Senior Cup
Blackrock v CBC Monkstown
Newbridge v Roscrea
Belvedere v Wesley
Q1 v Kings Hos
Clongowes v Kilkenny
Michaels v Terenure
Castleknock v St Andrews
Q2 v St Marys

[goreyguy]

On paper rock should walk it. Probably stronger team than last year, plus they added to there side with two talented youths in Carberry and Oliver.

Michaels have a lot of reps but are pretty young with the spine of their team being 5th years.

Newbridge could make another deep run depending on the draw.

Clongowes have a lot of talent in their backline but not sure if they have the pack to match Rock or Michaels.

Belvo are a dark horse.

[Darce]

Belvo beat Rock the other weekend but I'd still make Rock favourites. They've beaten pretty much everyone this year including Palmerston North Boys High School, a top team in NZ

[goreyguy]

Can't read much into friendlies, we don't know who was missing..
Blackrock have 6 players starting for the Leinster schools side 2moro vs Australia and 2 more players involved with Ireland u19 who play Aus on saturday.

1. Fitzpatrick
3. Loughman
4. Dwan
5. O'Connor
7. Oliver
8. Timoney
10, Kearns
15. Carberry

Belvo have zero involved.

[DukeOfEvanburgh]

Belvo would of possibly had one involved, if Rory Litchfield (Flanker/No 8 ) had not of got injured in the Belvo/Rock match.

[Slipper1]

well, you all know what i'm going to say...

[johng]

well, you all know what i'm going to say...

Oh yeah. And you're right as usual.

Don't we have to win something just to get IN to the sct this year though.

[goreyguy]

Leinster u18 players named in the the Ireland u18 schools side:

Prop:
Andrew Porter (Andrews)
Hooker:
Hugo Keane (Blackrock)
John Molony (Clongowes)
Lock:
James Ryan (Michaels)
Backrow:
Will Connors (Clongowes)
Charlie Cregan (Michaels)
Max Deegan (Michaels)
Greg Jones (Andrews)
Scrumhalf:
David Duggan (Michaels)
Outhalf:
Tim Foley (Roscrea)
Jimmy O'Brien (Newbridge)
Centre:
Colm Mulcahy (Clongowes)
Wing:
Con Callan (Gerards)
Tim Carroll (Roscrea)

[ormond lad]

Vinnie Murray starts later this week and Godfrey Cup starts next week.
Senior Cup and Junior Cup dates, venues and kick off times also released

Senior Cup Venues and Dates
A. Blackrock College v C.B.C Monkstown
Wednesday 29th Jan Donnybrook k.o. 2.30
B. Newbridge College v Cistercian College Roscrea
Wednesday 29th Jan Co. Carlow RFC k.2.30
C. Belvedere College v Wesley College
Tuesday 28th January Donnybrook k.o. 2.30
D. Q.1 v The King’s Hospital School
Wednesday 29th Jan Lakelands k.o 2.30
E. Clongowes Wood v Kilkenny College
Wednesday 29th Jan. NUIM Maynooth k.o. 2.30
F. St. Michael’s College v Terenure College
Sunday 26th Jan Donnybrook k.o. 2.30
G. Castleknock College v St. Andrew’s College
Wednesday 29th Jan Templeville Rd k.o. 2.30
H. Q.2 v St. Mary’s College
Wednesday 29th Jan Anglesea Rd.

Junior Cup Venues and Dates
A. Newbridge College v Castleknock College
Wednesday 5th Feb Templeville Rd k.o. 3.00pm
B. Belvedere College v Gonzaga College k.o. 3.00.
Friday 7th Feb Donnybrook k.o. 3.00
C.CBC Monkstown v Blackrock College
Tuesday 4th Donnybrook k.o. 3.00
D. Clongowes Wood College v Presentation College Bray
Wednesday 5th Feb. Anglesea Rd k.o. 3.00
E. St. Mary’s College v St. Michael’s College
Wednesday 5th Feb. Donnybrook k.o. 3.00
F. Q.1 v St. Gerard’s
Wednesday 5th Feb. Stradbrook k.o. 3.00pm
G. Q.2. v C.U.S.
Wednesday 5th Feb Coolmine RFC k.o. 3.00
H. Kilkenny College v Terenure College
Wednesday 5th Feb Cill Dara RFC k.o. 3.00

[hugonaut]

Leinster u18 players named in the the Ireland u18 schools side:

Prop:
Andrew Porter (Andrews)
Hooker:
Hugo Keane (Blackrock)
John Molony (Clongowes)
Lock:
James Ryan (Michaels)
Backrow:
Will Connors (Clongowes)
Charlie Cregan (Michaels)
Max Deegan (Michaels)
Greg Jones (Andrews)
Scrumhalf:
David Duggan (Michaels)
Outhalf:
Tim Foley (Roscrea)
Jimmy O'Brien (Newbridge)
Centre:
Colm Mulcahy (Clongowes)
Wing:
Con Callan (Gerards)
Tim Carroll (Roscrea)

I went down to that game in Ashbourne, actually. Bit of a mess, the ambulance didn't show up on time and they were an hour late to start. There were also numerous re-starts from the same position, and scenarios set up by coaches from both sides. As much a live training session as it was a game.

Standouts from the Leinster side of things [from my point of view] were Colm Mulcahy [Schools outside centre], James Ryan [Schools lock], Max Deegan [Schools No8] and Conor O'Brien [Clubs outhalf]. Mulcahy very naturally gifted – looks very pale and skinny, but buckets of pace, runs good lines, unselfish and very brave and technically good at tackling. He was up against a very well put-together and quick opposite number in Sam Arnold from the Exiles and dropped him with a textbook front-on tackle in the first couple of minutes. To look at them you'd think it was man against boy, but it didn't pan out like that.

There's something about guys who don't look the part but are just really good at their sport that's sort of encouraging, like Ollie Campbell or Peter Canavan in Gaelic football. Always good to see 'one-offs' who don't fit the mould. It's probably just a positive prejudice, but I tend to get the impression that they're in the sport for good reasons, i.e. they know that they're good at it and they understand how it's supposed to work even at a young age.

James Ryan is no secret to anybody, probably the less said about him the better at this stage. Deegan very reminiscent of Jordan Coghlan as a No8, tall and quick and a good handler. Much more a Harinordoquy than a Picamoles. Conor O'Brien has a lot of things going for him physically, kicks well too. Had him pegged for a centre so it was a little surprising to see him in the No10 jersey.

[goreyguy]

thanks Hugo.

O'Brien played 10 last year but has mostly played 12/13 this year. Obviously talented and versatile.
Deegan has had a serious growth spurt, played 12 at JCT but now firmly an 8.
Don't know much about Mulcahy.

[denzel]

What date is the final please? 16 or 17 March?

[Darce]

The 17th I'd say as its the Monday

[irishrugbyua]

I posted a breakdown of the St. Michael's squad that was announced today on my blog: http://t.co/MUjY3LEqHa

Forward to watch: James Ryan
Back to watch: Dave Duggan

Lot's of talented players on that team though.

[irishrugbyua]

Former Club lads now playing schools:

Jeremy Loughman: Prop, Athy RFC u16 -> Blackrock College(joined 5th year)
Cormac Marrey: Prop, Skerries RFC u18 -> Belvedere College(joined 6th year)
David O'Connor: Second Row, Skerries RFC u16 -> Blackrock College(joined 4th year)
Conor Oliver: Backrow, Skerries RFC u18 -> Blackrock College(joined 6th year)
Rory Litchfield: Backrow, Suttonians RFC u18 -> Belvedere College(joined 6th year)
Joey Carberry: Fullback, Athy RFC u18 -> Blackrock College(joined 6th year)
Paul O'Connor: Wing, Skerries RFC u18 -> St. Michael's College

I'll keep my eyes out for any others.

[denzel]

can todays game be watched on tv anywhere please?

[Grumpy Old Man]

can todays game be watched on tv anywhere please?

The Michaels Terenure game was put back until Friday, not sure about any others.

[irishrugbyua]

Todays results.

Newbridge College 14 Cistercian Roscrea 3
Castleknock College 15 St Andrews 15
Clongowes 34 Kilkenny College 15
Belvedere 28 Wesley College 3

[cormac]

Setanta currently showing the 2006 Final between Blackrock and St. Michael's. Morris, Artemiev and Fitzgerald in the back three for Blackrock. Noel Reid on the wing for Michael's!?