Limerick’s Ardscoil Rís make a third appearance in the Munster Schools Senior Cup final at Thomond Park this afternoon (2pm) but have yet to win the trophy.
They face Rockwell College who have been champions on 25 occasions with their most recent win being in 2012.
The potential is there for a cracker as neither team lost on their way to the final.
For Ardscoil it has been a more dramatic route to the final with last-minute penalties by Conor Fitzgerald earning them victories against CBC and PBC.
Ace
Indeed, Fitzgerald has been their ace to date and he scored all 11 points when they beat St Munchin’s College, he delivered 18 points against CBC and eight against PBC.
Clearly he is their key man in a quality side and he, and Jack O’Donnell, will be backs worth watching.
Rockwell have the bigger set of forwards and in beating Glenstal Abbey 22-3 in the semi-final Bryan McLoughlin, Mikey Wilson and Tommy Anglim were particularly prominent.
Behind they have a splendid outhalf in Bill Johnston with centre Lee Molloy and winger Shane Lanigan-Ryan always a threat.
Foothold
Ardscoil will be hoping that the ultra reliable Pierse Lyons, skipper
Ty Chan
and
Jerry McCabe
, if recovered from a semi-final injury, can gain a foothold up front.
The fact that Ardscoil have nine members of the squad who reached the final last year may give them a slight edge in what will be a final with two former Munster players as coaches.
Denis Leamy, Rockwell, will be hoping to put one over on Mossy Lawler but the Limerick side go into the final as favourites and a win would spark huge celebrations for the school attended by Ireland captain and 100-capper Paul O'Connell.
It promises to be a great occasion irrespective of who wins.
