Rockwell College will be hoping that it is second time lucky when they oppose St Munchin's College in tomorrow's Munster Schools' Senior Cup final at Thomond Park (3.30). Beaten in last season's decider by CBC Cork, they avenged that loss in spectacular fashion in this season's semifinal when they beat a strongly fancied Christians side 25-17.
The Tipperary college have won the cup on 22 occasions but the last was back in 1986. St Munchin's have to go back even further, to 1982, for the last of their two Senior Cup triumphs. They beat PBC Cork and fellow Limerick school Crescent in a very tense and exciting semifinal, 15-14. Rockwell are slight favourites to atone for last season's disappointment.
In Ulster, defending champions RBAI will face Methodist College Belfast in the final at Ravenhill on Monday (3.0).
Defending champions Blackrock College will be hoping to claim a 41st title when they take on Belvedere College in the Leinster Schools' Junior Cup final at Lansdowne Road (3.30) tomorrow. Blackrock have had an impressive campaign, including a semi-final win over Terenure College (2213) that was some consolation for the defeat of the seniors in last weekend's final.
They are captained by centre Gerry Nyhan and will look to attacking full-back Michael Kavanagh and number eight Eoin O'Keeffe for inspiration. Belvedere will be without their captain Brian O'Neill, who misses the match through injury having already missed the team's 17-10 success over Clongowes Wood College in the semi-final. Full-back Kevin Barden will lead the side.
Belvedere have twice beaten Blackrock in Junior Cup finals in the last decade, prevailing in the 1994 and 1999 deciders. They are chasing a 17th success in the competition and will be hoping to emulate the 17-5 victory in a pre-cup match against tomorrow's opponents. The teams have contested 14 finals with Blackrock leading 8-6, and those who have seen both teams play this season suggested that they may extend that advantage.
The Teams
Rockwell: M Lyons; B Mackey, C O'Gorman, B O'Connor, B Crowley; D Lyons, J Hurley; J Clifford, D Fogarty, R Brosnan; E Macken (capt), J MacKessey; F Quinlan, M Melbourne, M Barry.
St Munchin's: A Kilcoyne; F O'Dea, B Deady, B Cahill, C O'Doherty; B Carroll, A Howard; S Deady, R O'Connor, D Varley; F Broderick, A Buckley; D O'Dwyer, M Carroll, E Nihill (capt). BELVEDERE COLLEGE: K Barden (capt); M McCarthy, M McAllister, C Hayes, D Keane; R Hedigan, B Moran; G Brennan, R Carsen, E Weigel; H Lacey, M Walsh; R Fitzgerald, R McDonald, B Kennedy.
Blackrock College: M Kavanagh; C Moore, G Nyhan (capt), D Barrett, N Madden; D Cullen, A Geraghty; G Wall, C Culleton, S Creavin; R O'Hara, N Lysaght; G Flanagan, D Laffan, E O'Keeffe.
Referee: D Woods (Leinster).
