LEINSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP SQUADS
BELVEDERE COLLEGE
MANAGEMENT: Phil Werahiko (head coach), Stephen Gibbons, Stuart Wheeler, Massey Tuhakaraina, Conor Jennings, Tom De Jongh, Hugh Fenlon, Brian Egan, Hugh O’Sullivan, Pairic Cagney, Max Kearney, Eoghan O’Sullivan (physio), Prof Arnie Hill (doctor) and Michael Lawlor (S&C).
LAST YEAR: Winners
SQUAD: *Sam Barry, *Harry Beggy, JP Beggy, *Jonathan Bell, *Ruadhan Byron, Conor Cagney, Aaron Coleman, Cillian Cosgrave, Jack Crumlish, Mark Daly, Callan D’Arcy, Odhran D’Arcy, Ruairi D’Arcy, Jack Delaney, Rory Doran, Glen Dunne, Rory Dwyer, Adam Feeley, Cian Fitzgerald, Eoin Gaine, Mateusz Galinski, Luke Gauvin-Grennan, *James Gleeson, Matt Grogan, Luke Harmon, *Joseph Haughey, *David Hawkshaw (captain), Evan Hill, *Gerard Hill, Peter Hill, Neil Howard, Matthew Hynes, Bill Jennings, Jed Jones, Jack Keating, Conor Kelly, David Lacey, Justin Leonard, Alistair Loughrey, Patrick Lysaght, Adam Maher, Cian Maher, *Jack McCarthy, Luke McDermott, Josh McGrath, Luan McGrath, Killian McNevin, *John Meagher, *Cailean Mulvaney, *James Murphy, Gavin Murray, Callan Nyhan, Gareth O’Brien, Jacob O’Regan, James O’Sullivan, Kevin O’Connor, Alex O’Grady, *Jamie O’Grady, David Porter, Alex Ross, David Ryan, *David Sanfey, *Cian Scott, Alex Soroka, Andrew Synnott, Fiachra Tuckey, Conall Tuite, Paul Twomey, Dylan Venner, Ted Walsh*, Morgan Wilkes and Cormac Yalloway.
SENIOR finalists for the last three years and back-to-back winners in 2016 and last year, I think it is fair to describe this as a golden era for Belvedere rugby. Bear in mind there was no outright success from the day John Brennan lifted the coveted trophy in 1972 until the big breakthrough in 2005, which was, coincidentally, headmaster Gerry Foley’s first year in charge.
Fr Leonard Moloney, then on his way to Clongowes, had laid the groundwork (culminating in the first double of Junior and Senior in ’05) and under Foley’s watch rugby in the school has gone from strength to strength.
They are also fortunate to have some pretty slick mentoring in the background, not least through head coach Phil Werahiko as well as games master and Clontarf RFC driver-in-chief Andy Wood.
In that early ’70s run inspired by Brennan, Ollie Campbell and Ray Finn to name but some, the Don Lewis-led High School
— with half-backs John Robbie and Ian Burns the fulcrum — spoilt the Belvo attempt at history and a first ever three-in-a-row when the Danum school took the trophy for the one and so far only time.
Already the ‘millennial’ generation has equalled that achievement when losing out to Roscrea in 2015 (by coincidence, also their one and only Cup win to date) before going on to take the cup back across the Liffey for the following two years.
Never before has the Great Denmark Street school made it through to four finals on the bounce. Although looking nowhere beyond Gonzaga (last year’s beaten semi-finalists) Belvo will surely be looking for a first hat-trick of successes. No pressure then on talented skipper David Hawkshaw, who himself will be chasing an unprecedented third Senior winner’s medal in-a-row.
To that end the Leinster U-19 out-half and skipper is one of 16 players back from last year’s all-conquering squad. Included in that is seven of the Cup final match day 23, with Hawkshaw and Ruadhan Byron the key starters at out-half and No 8 respectively.
In addition, forwards Joseph Haughey and John Meagher as well as backs Ted Walsh, Jamie O’Grady and Sam Barry (son of former Garryowen, St Mary’s and Ireland out-half Nicky) were centrally involved throughout campaign.
Hawkshaw, Byron and Barry have been members of the Leinster U-19s while O’Grady, Meagher and Cailean Mulvaney have lined out with the provincial U-18s. Piece it all together and another substantial Cup-winning challenge is under way.
BLACKROCK COLLEGE
MANAGEMENT: Justin Vanstone (head coach), Gareth Pickering, Steve Lambe, Shane Murray, Daniel Moore, Seamus Toomey, Tony Smeeth and Evan O’Brien. LAST YEAR: Beaten by Belvedere (10-3) in final.
SQUAD: Ross Baron, Niall Brady, Ed Brennan, Gordon Bruns, *James Burke, Frank Byrne, *Thomas Clarkson, David Colgan, Niall Comerford, Matthew Cullen, Josh Dixon, Harry Donnelly, Lochlann Dougan, Billy Doyle, Cian Duffy, Daniel Eiffe, Matthew Farrell, David Fitzgibbon, Daniel Foley, Rob Hally-Doody, Liam Heylin, Gavin Jones, Euan Kennedy, John Kirby, Jonathan Landers, Jack Loscher, Rory Madigan, Stephen Madigan, *Tom Maher, *Michael McGagh, Liam McMahon, Killian McQuaid, Donnacha Mescal, Luke Mion, *Sean Molony (pictured below), Mark Morrissey, Nathan Mullan, Sean O’Brien, Tadgh O’Hagan, Hugo O’Malley, Cameron O’Neill, Louis O’Reilly, Conor O’Sullivan, Josh Slevin, Jack Stapleton, James Tarrant, *Liam Turner (captain), Ben Wallace, John Walsh and Ben White.
BELVO now stand second, on 12 Cup wins, in the overall roll of honour but when it comes to consistent success, one school still stands apart. In terms of setting standards on and off the field, Blackrock College continues to lead the way. The code of etiquette and general demeanour is second to none. Yes, they too have their lean periods — bear in mind they went from 1967 to 1974 without a cup win (St Mary’s the beaten finalists at either end) — and that, in the Blackrock vocabulary, equates
to a virtual famine. Since the turn of the century they have been in eight more finals, winning five, but the last outright success was in 2014 and, again, in Rock currency that is an eternity.
Last year represented a season best forgotten, given that they finished up losing both finals. At Senior, Belvo deservedly took the U-19 honours, while at Junior St Michael’s were without doubt the outstanding school and squad.
While most every other would be celebrating the achievement in reaching both finals, for Rock defeat on the double (the Junior decider in a replay) hurt badly.
In order to make good that loss to Belvo in 2017 and indeed bridge the gap since 2014, Justin Vanstone is head coach to a Blackrock squad more than capable of going the whole way.
Significantly, in 2015 the nucleus of this 2017 Senior group followed the successes of 2013 and 2014 on the way to four in-a-row at JCT in 2016, with Vanstone the inspiration.
Eleven of the starting 15 that beat Terenure (15-13) in that ‘J’ final, as well as five of the eight replacements plus Stephen Madigan and Gavin Jones, are fit and available for Senior selection three years on.
Outstanding representative centre Liam Turner is again captain (just as he was to that cup-winning Junior side in ’15) to a squad that includes two starters (Turner and Tom Maher) as well as five replacements (Sean Molony, Thomas Clarkson, James Burke, Michael McGagh and Gavin Jones) from last year’s Senior squad.
Brilliant Ireland Schools centre Turner will be playing in his fifth successive Cup campaign (two at Junior and three at Senior) while Clarkson was the Ireland Schools tighthead last year and is in national under-age camp again this time along with wing three-quarter Maher.
Cian Duffy and Ed Brennan played at loosehead and No 8 respectively for the Leinster U-18s. Twins Rory and Stephen Madigan are cousins of Bristol and Ireland out-half Ian, while Sean Molony (Ireland Clubs player last year) is a cousin of former St Michael’s and now Leinster lock Ross.
Ben Wallace is a member of the great Wallace rugby family; son of Henry and nephew of Richard, Paul and David. Killian McQuaid is a younger brother of Conor, who was scrum-half on Conor Gilsenan’s powerful cup-winning Clongowes side of 2011.
In what looks a reasonably open competition this year, you can still take it as read that whoever knocks the Rock will be in that final frame.
CASTLEKNOCK COLLEGE
MANAGEMENT: Adrian Flavin (DOR), Jeremy Staunton (head coach), Darran Sheils, Peter O’Donnell, Jack Hurley, Ro Fallon (physio), John Stack (S&C), John McCole (S&C) and Mick Aughey (analysis). LAST YEAR: Beaten by Gonzaga (14-10) in
1st round.
SQUAD: *Adam Corcoran, Adam Doherty, Adam Malone, Alex Creedon, Benedict Culliton, Cathal Byrne, Cathal Murphy, *Cian Clancy, *Cian Egenton, Ciaran McCarrick, Ciaran O’Flynn, Cillian Diskin, Conor Levesley, *Conor Neville, *Daire Turley, Daniel Waldron, *David Sinclair-McCabe, David Slupko, Ethan Keogh, Evan Boyle, Evan Chester, Fergus Stanley, Finn O’Neill, Jack Considine, Jack Leach, Jack Roche, James McDonagh, James Wallace, *James McGaley (captain), Khan Jones, Kieran McMenamin, Killian Ronan, Killian Troy, Lennon Bracken, Louis McDonagh, Luke McMenamin, *Matthew Holton, Matthew Ryan, Max Gerhardt, Max Mellett, Niall Barrett, Owen Ntekim, Patrick Coyle, Paul McMenamin, Rian Kealy, Robert O’Farrell, Robert Quigley, Sean O’Reilly, Sean Peace, Sean Picard, Stephen Callinan, Stephen Quinn, Thomas Tory, Tiernan Gilvarry and Tomas Leen.
IT’S over a century (105 years, to be precise) since Castleknock announced its arrival on the Leinster schools stage. That 1913 final win (8-5 over Rock) set the bar in an incredibly high place, given that the game had only been introduced to the west Dublin school some four years before.
For those of a different generation Knock was, along with Rock, Belvo, Clongowes and Andrew’s, at the very top of the Leinster pile. Between 1913 and 1965 the Chapelizod school made it through to 21 Senior finals, winning eight.
Only twice since have they managed to make it through to the St Patrick’s Day finale. In 1976 they lost out to CBC when the Monkstown school took the trophy for the only time to date courtesy of a Bernard Moloney penalty (3-0) while in 1983 De La Salle were the victors (13-6) in a first Senior cup win for the Churchtown school.
Former Ireland winger and great Castleknock man Ron McCarten coached that ’83 side led by Joe Fogarty and No 8 Pat Ward in a hugely influential back-row. It also included a brilliant under-age out-half in Jody Fanagan, who could also play a bit of golf and along with Padraig Harrington, Paul McGinley and Keith Nolan went on to represent Ireland in the Walker Cup in the ’90s. Rugby’s loss was most definitely golf’s gain.
With each passing year the pressure mounts on Knock to return to those days of yore, and they are slowly getting there.
Former Connacht hooker Adrian Flavin is a hugely passionate director of rugby at the school and, along with former Garryowen and Ireland out-half Jeremy Staunton in his role as head coach, they make for a formidable coaching team.
Add in teacher Dermot Blaney of the great Terenure rugby dynasty and it’s easy to see why the only way is up. Already this season the Seniors made it through to the league semi-final, while the Juniors went even further still when taking the Junior league trophy back through the Phoenix Park.
It represents the second schools Junior league title in three seasons and proof that things are stirring.
Centre Jamie McGaley is captain of a Knock Senior squad that includes eight from last year. These include Leinster Schools U-18 players in openside flanker Adam Corcoran as well as classy out-half Cian Egenton.
They also have a massive second-row pairing in Max Mellett and Daniel Waldron, both following the same well-trodden path of another famous old boy, Devin Toner. Others to watch for include strong-running right-wing Daire Turley, equally strong-running No 8 Cian Clancy, as well as slick-passing scrum-half Louis McDonagh.
The draw hasn’t been kind, with Rock first up. A case perhaps of everything to gain and little to lose?
CISTERCIAN COLLEGE ROSCREA
MANAGEMENT: Rob Dempsey (head Coach), Billy Foley, Alan Tynan, Tyrone Elliott, Brian Murphy (physio) and Emmet Quinlan (S&C).
LAST YEAR: Beaten by Gonzaga (41-24) in 2nd round.
SQUAD: *Michael Milne (captain, pictured below), *Josh Wycherley, *Neal Moylett, Dan Power, *David Maher, Iain McGrath, *James Corcoran, *Lucas Culliton, Ronan Loughnane, *Ryan Lomas, Gearoid Cramp, Gavin Meagher, Darragh Loughnane, Luke Clohessy, Darragh Tynan, *Liam Crowley, *Tadgh Bird, *Jerry Cahir, *Evan Browne, *Jay Culleton, Diarmaid Kilgallen, Cormac Izuchukwu, Ben Murphy, Thomas Martin, Billy Foley, *Jack Matthews, Rowan O’Halloran, Alex Halpin, Fiachra Murphy, Jack Gilligan, John McKeon, Shane Connolly, Adam Dunne, Gavan Brady, Eoin Deegan, Zack Whelehan, David O’Toole, Michael Carroll, Lorcan McDonnell, Sean Clancy, Eoghan Brennan, Caoimhghin Bradshaw, Luke Barry, Joseph Cronin, Jack Egan, Cinead Tynan, Sam Feely, Stevie Ryan, Sean Liffey, Shane Mallon, Adam Lampkin, Bill Burns, Carlos Griffin, Cian Quinn, Jacob Faughnan, Keith Roberts and Manus Heenan.
WHEN Tim Foley and the Cistercian College Roscrea team turned history on its head in 2015, the nation rejoiced. With the understandable exception of Belvedere in their hour of disappointment, the goodwill expressed was across the board.
When Foley, Alan Tynan, Fineen Wycherley and the rest put Rock to the sword (17-14) in the quarterfinal by way of a late but typically well-rehearsed rolling maul and rumbling try at the Bective end, the fairytale was on.
And so it came to pass. I remember in the weeks that followed that game when announcing the Irish Independent
Team of the Tournament at a reception in the RDS, I attempted to make the point that Roscrea had succeeded despite having numbers not much north of 200.
I was immediately taken to task from every corner of the room, when it was made known that 181 boys were registered in that particular year.
Put simply, it was a remarkable achievement with the ripple effect of that win (despite one big scare since along the way) seeing Cistercian College a force to be reckoned with at Junior and Senior every year.
Roscrea have been to five finals since the first in 1941 but three, including that never-to-beforgotten success in 2015, have been in the last six years alone.
Heady times indeed for the school that has the best of both worlds given its location on the Offaly/Tipperary border or, more pertinently I guess, on that Leinster/Munster divide. Their style of rugby reflects the best of both: Munster up front, Leinster behind.
Rob Dempsey is now head coach of a group captained by powerful prop Michael Milne and including 13 back from last year’s squad beaten by Gonzaga in the second round. Tighthead Milne is one of five representative players, having lined out for Leinster and Ireland at U-19.
Others include Josh Wycherley (brother of
Cup winner Fineen) who has packed down at loosehead for Munster and also for Ireland at U-19. Loosehead Ryan Lomas and flanker Neal Moylette (son of former Shannon, Connacht and Ireland lock Mick) have both represented Connacht Club/ Schools at U-19. No 8 Luke Clohessy has filled the same position for Munster at U-19. For Lucas Culliton it’s in the genes; he is a grandson of former Ireland international Gerry and son of Ronnie.
Darragh Tynan is a younger brother of Alan, Cup winner in ’15, Tipperary footballer, Munster Academy, Young Munster RFC and assistant coach to the ‘S’. Darragh Loughnane is the grandson of former Tipperary hurling legend Francis.
The draw has been relatively kind, with Vinnie Murray Qualifier 2 (possibly CBC, Wesley or Kilkenny) the initial opposition.
CLONGOWES WOOD COLLEGE
MANAGEMENT: Brett Igoe (head coach), Pat Kenny, Daryl Maxwell, David Lyons
(physio) and Brian Murray (S&C).
LAST YEAR: Beaten by Belvedere (17-12) in semi-final.
SQUAD: Luke McMahon, Rossa O’Kane, *Ryan McMahon, Conor Duff, Pete Kiernan, Calum Doyle, Michael Behan, *Bobby Sheehan, Calum Dowling, Ethan Noone, Tommy Inglis, *Daniel Beggs, Gavin Dowling, Patrick Dowling, *Tom Coghlan, Michael Colivet, Tom Gilheany, Tom Power, *Anthony Ryan (Captain), Barry Dooley, Jack Hillard, John Durkan, Hugh Lonergan, *Matthew Martin, *Conrad Daly, Ross McGoey, *Charles Gallen, Max Dowling, David Wilkinson, Jack Reilly, Luke Mc Dermott, Christopher Grimes, *Joe Carroll, *Ben O’Shea, Conor Martin, Tadgh Dooley, David Hanley, Mark Galvin, Sean Donovan, *Tim O’Brien, Dan Reddan and *John Maher.
WE won’t say these are desperate times down Clane way but given the consistent challenge for outright success at Senior level since ‘Mocky’ (coach Fr Michael Shiel) and Greg (skipper Greg Dilger) bridged that massive 62-year gap when taking the Senior trophy for only the second time in 1978 (beating Terenure), Clongowes are always there or thereabouts.
In the new millennium alone they have made it through to seven finals, winning three and losing four.
In terms of strength in depth, I would rank the back-to-back winning squad of 2010-2011 as their greatest ever, marginally ahead of the Des Dillon/Gordon D’Arcy-inspired, all-conquering lot of ’98.
But the front-row of Gordon Frayne/Dan O’Byrne alongside the Byrne brothers Bryan and Edward provided the platform for the back-row of Nick McCarthy, skipper Conor Gilsenan and No 8 Jordan Coghlan (now playing professional rugby at Nottingham) to wreak havoc.
Bear in mind that Peadar Timmins was but a replacement in that powerful Clongowes forward unit. There have been better individuals maybe, but add in Brian Phelan and Thomas Byrne in the boiler house and I doubt a more formidable pack has worn the famous white.
It is in that context that an absence of four years (since losing to Rock 22-17 in the 2014 final) can be appreciated for the void it is. It will be coming up to seven years since Gilsenan lifted that last trophy, so for a full six-year cycle of boys, winning is alien.
The first-round draw has been kind in so far as the Vinnie Murray Qualifier 1 (possibly King’s Hospital) will provide the early opposition. Mind you (and we’ll whisper it) last year’s squad was pushed to the pin of their collar to squeeze an outstanding St Fintan’s side (31-29) in the 2017 opening round. Nothing can be taken for granted in this great competition.
The class of ’18 includes 12 back from last year’s unit that were eventually beaten by sister school Belvedere (17-12) in the semi-final.
Brett Igoe and Pat Kenny again oversee a potentially very talented group. The competition is so much the richer when Clongowes are in contention and I have a sneaking suspicion they will be this time around.
Their pre-Christmas friendly form has been consistent and with flanker Anthony Ryan skipper to a panel that includes a dozen players involved in the various provincial squads at various times, the omens are good. These include props Conor Duff and Ryan McMahon, hooker Bobby Sheehan, locks Gavin Dowling and Daniel Beggs as well as backrower Ryan, Tom Coghlan, scrum-half Charles Gallen, centresBen O’Shea and Joe Carroll, as well as wing John Maher. Conrad Daly represented the Leinster U-18 Schools last year.
Duff, Sheehan, Dowling, Beggs and Ryan all wore Leinster blue in the U-18 pack this season, with Maher gaining the No 11 shirt.
Duff, Ryan, O’Shea and Maher have all been involved in the Irish Schools U-18 training camp over Christmas.
The extended squad includes three sets of brothers in the Dowlings (Max and Calum), the McMahons (Ryan and Luke) and the Dooleys (Tadgh and Barry).
Dan Reddan is a nephew of former international Eoin with Tom Coghlan a cousin of Jordan. We’ll desist from dubbing them dark horses, but watch for a very definite challenge from CWC.
GONZAGA COLLEGE
MANAGEMENT: Declan Fassbender (head coach), Gareth Pelly (manager), Mark McGroarty, Hugh Byrne, Ross McKeever and Chris Coburn (S&C).
LAST YEAR: Beaten by Blackrock (34-8) in Semi-final.
SQUAD: *Eoin Barr, *Eoin Barron, Sean Barry, *Eoin Buggy, *Simon Clear, *Caoilim Fassbender, *Michael Gleeson, *Hugh Gleeson, *Charlie Goulding, *Mikey Holly, *Daniel Inglis, *Robbie Kidney (captain), *Matt Meagher, *Ian O’Grady, *Brian O’Donnell, Jack Tackaberry, *Jack Barry, Edward Collins, *Jack Connolly, Jack Coolican, Ben Flynn, *Henry Godson, Colm Kirby O’Brien, Tadgh McEvoy, Karl Morgan, Fergus O’Hoisin, Frank O’Grady, Rory O’Kennedy, Oisin O’Leary-Deane, Oscar Rogers, Liam Tyrrell, Luc Van Cauwelaert, JJ Walsh, Brian Barron, James Breslin, Conor Carson, Harry Colbert, Max Colgan, Tom Cullen, Hugo Fitzgerald, Arthur Henry and Ronan Shaw.
LAST year marked an important milestone in the history of rugby at the Sandford Road school when the ‘S’ qualified for the semi-final of the main event for the very first time.
And it wasn’t just that Conor Gleeson’s side got through to the penultimate stage but that they did so in style by playing a riveting brand of rugby under head coach and Lansdowne RFC UBL assistant Declan Fassbender.
In accounting for Castleknock 14-10 in the opening round and Roscrea 41-24 in the quarter-final, they displayed a beautiful balance between power in the pack and clever lines of running in the backline, all underpinned by an enticing brand of high-tempo rugby.
In the end that Rock hurdle at the semi proved a little too high, but not before giving another amazing account of themselves, one that the final score (34-8) certainly did not reflect.
With 17 of that extended squad back, they have already stormed through the Senior league, winning five and drawing one (against Roscrea) of their six pool games before accounting for St Fintan’s (25-5) in the quarter-final and Newbridge (24-12) in the semi.
It took a dramatic try from St Gerard’s in the last play of the pre-Christmas final to deny them back-to-back league titles when the Bray school turned a two-point deficit (11-13) into a five-point win (18-13). Here again there was nothing in it, with both sides attempting to play positive rugby at every opportunity.
Expect such to be the formula, given the difficult opening-round draw where they will face Cup holders and great rivals Belvedere in the opening match on Sunday, January 28.
Both centres Eoin Barr and Brian O’Donnell, both props Michael Gleeson and Simon Clear, both locks Eoin Buggy and Robbie Kidney (now playing 8) as well as blindside Ian O’Grady, started in last year’s semi, while Caoilim Fassbender and Jack Connolly were on the bench.
Kidney is captain and Barr his second in command, with fellow centre and Leinster U-19 O’Donnell the star turn. Watch too for last year’s outstanding Junior skipper and centre Arthur Henry, who looks a great prospect, although playing on the wing in his first year at this level.
Recent high-profile graduates of the green include Matt Healy (Connacht and class of 2007), John Cooney (Ulster, class of 2008) and Barry Daly (Leinster, class of 2011).
This year may lack the balance overall when compared to last year’s beaten semi-finalists but if anything this is an even bigger side in physical terms. The one thing guaranteed is that the reigning champions will face a severe examination in their openinground defence.
NEWBRIDGE COLLEGE
MANAGEMENT: Niall Smullen (head coach), Henry Bryce, Jonathan Newsome and Cathal Murtagh. LAST YEAR: Beaten by St Mary’s (24-7) in 1st round.
SQUAD: Jack Banahan, Sam Cahill, Muiris Cleary, *Eimhin Conroy, Donal Conroy, *Con Creedon, David Cudmore, *Jack Doyle, *Ruairi Finan, *Karmon Fitzgerald, Victor Gillen, Thomas Grant, *Oisin Halpin, Jack Hannon, Bill Kavanagh, *Larry Kelly, Marcus Kiely, Cormac King, Peter Leavy, Ethan Lyons, Conor McGroary, Aaron McNelis, Geoff McNelis, *Luke Moloney, *Dylan Morrisey, Mark Moynihan, Ryan Mullins, Jordan Nolan, *Dan O’Connor, *Greg O’Neill, *Harry O’Neill, Zack O’Reilly, *Cian Prendergast (captain, pictured below left), *Tom Rynne, Rob Scully, John Shanahan, Tom Sheedy, Cormac Stopes and Daire Timmins.
I HATE admitting this, but whenever Newbridge College comes up in rugby conversation the name Michael Anthony Mary Quinn is the one that comes most immediately to mind. Mick Quinn, or ‘Quinny’ as he is most affectionately known to rugby folk everywhere, set the bar for more recent legends like Geordan Murphy, Bernard Jackman and Jamie Heaslip to blaze the trail.
I doubt those who wear the famous black and white will ever tire hearing of the daring deeds attributed to the Senior Cupwinning sides of 1941 and 1970 – no, we’re not forgetting such luminaries of the international game as Mick and Tommy Doyle, Tom Grace, Freddie McLennan, Robbie McGrath, Ronan Kearney etc.
Jack Deegan was No 8 and captain when the Senior Cup was first carried over the bridge and into Newbridge in ’41 (when beating pre-match favourites Roscrea 9-3 after a replay). But even that momentous win – and it was huge – trailed behind the shock that was in store for red-hot favourites Blackrock in the final of 1970.
To say the size and substance to that 19-5 success sent shockwaves through the schools’ game at the time is an understatement, with the star, the inspiration, the kicker and the captain the same MAM Quinn.
The 10-times capped Quinny truly was the instigator and executioner in one of the biggest upsets of all in Leinster Schools rugby history. That said, Quinn was but one of a number of
Newbridge players on that Cup-winning side who went on to have substantial playing careers.
They included scrum-half Steve Tunney, centre John Kerin and No 8 Jim O’Meara (all Lansdowne), Celsus (Celly) Toye (Skerries) and Tipp-born flanker Foster Kerrison, who went on to represent Connacht along with Kerin. Also on that team was a Devin Toner-type skyscraper in the guise of Paul Bowe (father of Tommy).
Great names from great times past, but therein lies the challenge for Niall Smullen and Cian Prendergast as head coach and captain respectively to the squad of 2018.
In the Senior league Newbridge finished second only to Gerard’s in Section B, winning four of their five pool games, then going on to beat Pres Bray (17-15) in the quarter-final before losing to Gonzaga (24-12) in the Donnybrook semi.
Leinster lock Prendergast was also captain of the provincial U-18 side as well as being selected to train with the Ireland U-18s over the Christmas period. He is one of 14 back from last year’s panel that was beaten by St Mary’s (24-7) in the opening round.
As coincidence would have it, Newbridge and Pres will meet again in the first round at Donnybrook on the last day of the month. On the evidence of the league knock-out, it will be a very much an on-the-day game. Would Smullen and his coaching staff want it any other way?
PRESENTATION BROTHERS COLLEGE, BRAY
MANAGEMENT: Maurice Logue (head coach), Olan Savage (S&C and manager), Joe Duffy and Seamie Kyne (physio).
LAST YEAR: Did not qualify.
SQUAD: *Ben Brady, Andrew Conway, *Noah Cummins, Ronan Dobra, Jack Gallagher, *Sam Graham, *Niall Groves, Tom Harbison, Daniel Joyce, *Liam Lupton-Smith, Darren Magee, David Maloney, Ryan McDonald, *Jack McGrath (captain), *Joe McLaughlin, Callum McNulty, Jordan Mortell, *Ben Murphy, Stephen Myler, *Sam O’Dowd, *Mick O’Gara, Andy Peakin, Josh Pyper, Sean Roche, *Eliott Ryan, *Keld Sredojevic, James Vance, *Aaron Walsh and Christopher Williams.
IF for Newbridge the years 1941 and 1970 are chiselled in stone, the year 1932 is even more sacred for Pres.
Two years before, in 1930, the JCT (with future international Jack Doyle its skipper and with Aidan Bailey another international in waiting) beat Belvedere (14-6) in the Bray school’s first U-15 final. It was to be the forerunner to even greater success and the completion of the Junior/Senior double two years on.
Four more Junior Cup successes followed in 1975, 1985, 1988 and 1990. Indeed, the last Pres captain to take the provincial cup back to his beloved Bray was Richie Murphy and the Ireland kicking coach has very definite links with this Senior squad of 2018.
I did a TV co-commentary on that ’90 final against Ray McIlreavy’s Wesley for Eric Miller’s dad Gareth and my abiding memory is of watching this diminutive out-half with the most amazing left peg kicking the ball distances unprecedented at that age level in Lansdowne Road. Needless to say, he won the goalkicking battle too as Pres edged home 9-6.
They have been back to one ‘J’ final since, with Murphy the coach and Jason Harris Wright the captain when losing out to Rock (21-5) in the final of 2004.
Incidentally, the other legendary name alongside Doyle and Bailey from that 1930s golden age was Hadgy Murphy, who went on to represent Leinster at senior level.
Pres Bray’s second most famous son after Bailey in terms of caps won is the great Maurice Mortell. Morto is a legend out Wicklow way and his sons Mark and Maurice Jnr have more than contributed to keeping up that great family rugby tradition.
So set to face Newbridge in the opening round, Jack McGrath leads a Pres squad including 13 back from last year and with great Bray names such as McLaughlin, Mortell, Murphy and Vance set to keep that amazing tradition ticking as smoothly as ever.
Former Greystones wing and Tullow Towns Cup-winning coach in 2017 Maurice Logue is at the Putland Road helm and has some pretty slick talent with which to work. Half-backs Elliot Ryan and Ben Murphy (son of Richie) along with centre and prolific goalkicker Mick O’Gara have all interprovincial experience with Leinster. Ryan has also played a pivotal role with Ireland in winning the U-19 sevens.
O’Gara is a cousin of Johnny Sexton and of Dublin footballer Eoghan. After almost a full year out of the game, scrum-half Murphy has come back with a bang as I watched him earlier in the season transform Leinster when coming on as a half-time replacement against Munster. He may not play in the same position as the aul’ lad, but he truly is a chip off the old block.
So too No 8 McLaughlin, whose father Joe won a JCT medal with Pres in ’75. It is a young squad but with just the width of a goalpost separating the sides in the league quarter-final against Newbridge, anything could happen on January 31. Either way, it’s just great to have Pres back at the top table of Leinster rugby.
ST ANDREW’S COLLEGE
MANAGEMENT: Ian Dumbleton (head coach), Jordan Larmour, Harry McNulty, David Jones (S&C), Peter Mulrean (Physio) and Charlie Doel (Manager). LAST YEAR: Beaten by Belvedere (7-48) in 1st round.
SQUAD: Jamie Boag, *Luhie Sigcau, *Jack O’Brien, *Ben Crowley, *Andrew Sullivan (Captain), *Rory Simmington, *Sam Gleeson, *Patrick Perrem, *Stephen Keane, *Daniel James, *Aaron O’Neill, Nathan Murphy, Luke Hoade, *Daragh Geraghty-Singleton, *Reece Jordan, *Harry Kirk, Alexander Wallace, John Hewson, Joshua Kuh-Hogan, Alex Deegan, Cameron Kerr, *Matthew Jordan, *Zane McClatchie-Ombima, Flynn Ashton, Nicholas Owens, Charlie Turner, Robert Halpenny, Louis Ronaldson and Killian Puplett.
LET’S not hide from the elephant in the room. For rugby in St Andrew’s – and bear in mind there was a time when the then St Stephen’s Green-based school operated alongside Blackrock at the very top of the Leinster ladder, making it through to seven Senior finals and winning four between 1902 and 1922 – the dual emphasis on hockey and rugby for boys makes competing with the top schools virtually impossible.
To that end what has been achieved in recent years under the watch of David Boyd, Charlie Doel and most particularly Ian Dumbleton is remarkable. Both director of rugby (Doel) and head coach (Dumbleton) are former pupils and proud wearers of the blue and white in their schoolgoing time at Booterstown, with Dumbleton central to the Leinster Senior League success in 1999, bridging that barren gap in silverware from 1922.
For any school wanting to compete, even allowing for the numbers issue, the division of resources between field sports makes it close to impossible.
Andrew’s are not alone in that respect but it is a massive obstacle with invariably the most prominent athletes outstanding in both codes — Jordan Larmour being a case in point.
The class of 2014 set new standards when under Greg Jones’ leadership a particularly talented group – including Larmour, Andrew Porter, Jack Balbirnie and Johnny Guy – made it through to the semi-final, only to lose out narrowly to Clongowes (22-17).
It was a fantastic achievement, one that sees the school now competing consistently in the main competition through automatic qualification via the pre-Christmas League.
This has proved to be the case again, with a fourth-place finish in Section A (beating Wesley and Kilkenny along the way) thereby ensuring a place in the league quarter-final knock-outs as well as that precious name in the hat for the main draw.
Eventual winners St Gerard’s ended league aspirations (30-13) but St Mary’s will be the opposition in the opening round of the cup at Donnybrook on February 2.
Dumbleton is again at the helm, assisted by Larmour and Harry McNulty. They oversee a squad that includes 15 back from last year’s extended panel. Strong-running Andrew Sullivan is captain of a group that includes Zane Ombima-McClatchie as well as Old Wesley centre and mentor Paul McClatchie.
Charlie Turner is the younger brother of outstanding Blackrock College captain and centre Liam, while Aaron O’Neill and Stephen Keane have already made their mark on the representative scene in cricket.
The Andrew’s motto reads ‘Ardens Sed Virens’ — Burning But Flourishing. Well they ain’t burning and with recent graduates like Felix Jones, Greg Jones (no relation), Larmour and Porter lighting the way, this great rugby school is still flourishing.
ST FINTAN’S HIGH SCHOOL
MANAGEMENT: Bru Amerlynck (head coach), Peter Synnott, Rory Litchfield, Andrew Feeney, Darren Kenna (performance therapist) and Mossy Connolly (manager).
LAST YEAR: Beaten by Clongowes (31-29) in 1st round.
SQUAD: Aidan O’Kane, Adam Kenny, Alex Macari Kelly, Alex Stevens, Archie Stewart, Caolan Litchfield, Charlie Fearon, Conor Hickey, Cormac Graham, David Lally, Jake Prendergast, *Killian Hickey, Loughlin O’Shea, Michael Kiely, *Mick Fitzpatrick, Rob McCormack, *Sam Donohoe, Shane Cox, Thomas Bourke, Alan Keogan, Donal Hickey, *Darragh Kelly, *Daniel Callen, Eoin Dickson, *Frank O’Dea, *Jack Ussher, Liam Moloughney, Mark Jackson, Mikey McGiff, Niall O’Halloran, Sean Boyle and Sean O’Connor.
FOR Belvedere, 2017 was a year to remember, with a third successive final and back-to-back wins for the first time since 1971-72. Yet for many, the abiding memory will be of St Fintan’s and the year the Sutton school came of age.
As Rob Forbes, the central figure in its development to this point, outlined in these pages a year ago “the game truly took off in the school in 2001”.
The story goes that the then juvenile officer in Suttonians, Johnny Hughes, charged Forbes with taking a few PE classes to nurture rugby in the school.
“As the few classes came to an end, some of the first years at the time noticed that it was unfair they couldn’t represent their school in rugby like their friends in Belvedere and St Paul’s.”
A conversation highlighting the students’ feelings took place between Forbes and Wexford man Andy Kavanagh in the latter’s role as Games Master.
“It culminated in a trial for rugby outside school hours with this one group. The board approved, the headmaster approved and so it was.”
Mighty oaks from little acorns grow and while no one is in any doubt (not least new head coach Brian ‘Bru’ Amerlynck) as to the magnitude of the task in building on what was achieved last year, signs are that it’s up and running.
For the record, last year’s outstanding group were pipped in the opening round by the original giant-killers Clongowes.
The final score was 31-29 in a Donnybrook thriller that could so easily have gone the other way.
Forwards Killian Hickey and Sam Donohoe are co-captains and two of the seven back from last year’s ground-breaking match-day squad. Others include Mick Fitzpatrick, Darragh Kelly, Daniel Callen, Jack Usher and Frank O’Dea. Only O’Dea and Kelly started against Clongowes, so much has changed.
Out-half O’Dea and centre/wing Kelly, along with fellow centre Mikey McGiff and scrum-half Usher, have all represented Leinster Clubs at U-18, with Kelly also playing for the Ireland Schools in 2017. For No 8 Aidan O’Kane, it’s in the bloodline as he is grandnephew to former Ireland and Lions great Bill Mulcahy.
Already in the Senior League they have accounted for CBC and King’s Hospital, thereby finishing fourth in Section B and qualifying for the play-offs (where they were beaten by eventual runners-up Gonzaga 25-5) as well as gaining automatic qualification for the first round of the Cup for the second year running.
There they will meet league winners St Gerard’s in what is guaranteed to be another on-theday Donnybrook game, given that the Bray school stole the win (28-25) in Sutton back in October. Already Amerlynck, as new head coach and director of rugby, has proved that what was witnessed last year was no one-team wonder.
Be in no doubt the ‘Yellow Submarine’ continues to make mighty waves.
ST GERARD’S SCHOOL, BRAY
MANAGEMENT: Jason Emery (head coach), Phil De Barra, Sami Dowling (S&C), Jamie Martin Grace, Rory O’Connor (manager), Roisin Byrne and Tiarnach Donnelly (physio).
LAST YEAR: Beaten by St Michael’s (23-0) in 1st round.
SQUAD: David Carroll, Adam O’Reilly, Jack Dempsey, Luke Concannon, Brendan Farrell, Mark Finn, Robert Byrne, Isaac Philips, Daniel McGovern, Donal Ahern, Jack Maughan, *Oliver Soper, *Charlie Byrne, Niall Dooley, *Ethan Baxter, Rory Wilson, Michael Connolly, Thomas Cahill-Hannigan, Jack O’Caoimh, David O’Brien, *Cormac Foley, *Ben Watson, Oliver Haydock, Harry Begley, Morgan Freely, *Max O’Reilly, Jack Kennedy, Johnny Kennedy, Mark Fagan, Jack Kissane, Conor Diamond and Paddy Opperman.
IT’ S no state secret that the St Gerard’s team of 2017 felt they let a golden opportunity slip when Daniel Power’s league-winning JCT from 2014, having won all five Senior pool games, lost to Roscrea on their home patch in the quarterfinal. The Michael Milne-inspired side fully deserved their win on the day and went on to make the final, where they lost out narrowly to Gonzaga (20-13).
Despite only having six back from that talented squad, five are representative players – the greatest number of boys from the school to play for the province in any single season. So with skipper and flanker Ethan Baxter (hooker Leinster schools), full-back Max O’Reilly (left wing Leinster schools), out-half/full-back Ben Watson (out-half Leinster schools), back-rower Charlie Byrne (backrow Leinster schools) and centre Cormac Foley (9, 10 or 12 for Leinster U-19s) in situ, this group were always set to be competitive.
They took all five games in their pool this year (including a get-outof-jail card at St Fintan’s) before beating Andrew’s in the quarterfinal (30-13), Castleknock in the semi (33-19), to be followed by a dramatic individual try from the outstanding Foley to break Gonzaga hearts and turn a 13-11 deficit into an 18-13 victory with the last play of the pre-Christmas Donnybrook final.
The versatile Foley crossed the whitewash five times against Knock (with three given) before adding two more in the final.
It made for a fourth league title success and first since Jack Conan, Steve Crosbie, Ryan O’Loughlin and the rest did the three in-a-row between 2009 and 2011.
Watson is a son of Wicklow RFC director of rugby and former three-time Ireland snooker champion Jason. Sporting prowess is in the genes and Watson, along with Max O’Reilly (son of former Gerard’s ‘S’ scrum-half David), have been part of the Ireland Schools U-18 squad, with Foley heavily involved in the Ireland U-19 squad.
The sixth player back on board, although returning from injury, is Ollie Haydock, whose general play in midfield, allied to his extraordinary goal-kicking, makes for an involvement every bit as influential as the ‘Rep Five’.
Morgan Freeley and Paddy Opperman, along with Jack Kennedy in reserve, make for three quick, big and strong runners in the outside channels, while O’Reilly too has pace in abundance.
David O’Brien is the second chip off the old block that is former Greystones great Jerome O’Brien to wear the Gerard’s No 10 shirt, following the footsteps of older brother Matthew. Jack O’Caoimh has proved an inspiration at scrumhalf, freeing up the versatile Foley for a more adventurous role.
Jason Emery is again head coach and is ably assisted by former High School, DLSP and now backs coach to Gorey RFC, Phil De Barra.
Mix it all together and there is the potential for a fairly lethal cocktail but given what transpired in the league when the sides met before Christmas, nobody in either camp is looking beyond February 1 and this Fintan’s/Gerard’s showdown.
ST MARY’S COLLEGE, RATHMINES
MANAGEMENT: Jamie Cornett (head coach), Johne Murphy, Derek Dowling, John Wynne, Niall Cassidy (S&C), Alan Kingsley (Skills), David Dunne (Manager) and Steve Hennessy (DOR).
LAST YEAR: Beaten by Clongowes (24-14) in 2nd round.
SQUAD: *George Hassett, Sean O’Reilly, *Conor McElearney, Elliot Massey, Daragh Nulty, *Gavin O’Brien, Eoin Power, Craig Walsh, Max Grace, Eoin Byrne, Michael Connell, *Harry McSweeney (Captain), *Niall Hurley, Joe Nolan, John Luc Carvill, *Oscar Byrne, Gavin Potts, Jack Grant, *Sean Heeran, *Ian Wickham, Adam McEvoy, Eoin Franklin, Eoin Carey, *Sean Bourke, Joseph Walsh, Michael McEvoy, James Dooley, Max Wheelan, *Tim McMahon, Ben McDonnell, Adam Martin, *Hugh Conway, *Peter Masterson and Ruairi Shields.
NEITHER school will thank me for saying it but these are lean times in Dublin 6 and 6W. I am referring to arguably the two greatest rivals in the Leinster schools game: Terenure and St Mary’s. Between the turn of the millennium and 2003, Terenure made it through to three finals, winning two, and Mary’s to two finals, winning one.
Both schools are part of what is known within the under-age game as the Big Six. They occupy two of the six leading positions in the Leinster Senior Cup roll of honour with Castleknock (8) and St Andrew’s (4) still ahead of the modern giant that St Michael’s (2) unquestionably now is.
Indeed, since Terenure beat Mary’s in the 2003 final bar Roscrea’s great win in 2015, the divvy out on the 13 finals reads: Rock (5), Belvo (4), Clongowes (2) and Michael’s (2). Take out RDS final defeats for Mary’s to Belvo in 2008 and for Terenure to Rock in 2009 and in effect it’s been a famine for two of the Big Six over the last 15 years.
I admit to still getting a little shiver up my spine every year when the Mary’s ‘J’ or ‘S’ first take to the Donnybrook pitch wearing that distinctive royal blue sock with the white turnover as against the all-blue sock of the club. It might seem trivial but such is the pride I take in my schoolboy roots. It would be nice to get to see that sock of my youth more often.
Dublin 6 needs a Senior Cup but nowhere near as much as both of these schools need that outright win to inspire a new generation of boys, whether royal blue or purple, whiteandblack.
Pre-Christmas friendly form has been consistent, with the Rathmines school motoring along just nicely but staying well below the radar. Under the watchful eye of director of rugby Steve Hennessy, Jamie Cornett and Johne Murphy make for continuity and a good coaching balance.
They oversee a squad with 12 back from last year’s extended Cup panel beaten by Clongowes in the quarter-final. Harry McSweeney is captain of a talented group that includes Leinster representatives Niall Hurley and Adam McEvoy with the provincial U-18s, as well as winger Ruairi Shields with the 19s.
They have too in Derek Dowling one of the best scrum coaches around. ‘Babs’ is to Mary’s what John Fogarty is to Leinster and Greg Feek to Ireland.
The draw has been kind in that the first-round opposition will not be one of the Big Six. The opening match against St Andrew’s will be in Donnybrook on a very important date in the Holy Ghost (Spiritan) calendar – Fr Libermann Day.
I expect the class of 2018 to honour Founder’s Day in the best way possible courtesy of a win and let’ s see where it takes them from there.
ST MICHAEL’S COLLEGE
MANAGEMENT: Emmet McMahon (head coach), Andy Kenny, Matthew Gilsenan, Sam Griffin, James Ruxton (performance), John Ryan (doctor), Fionn Daly (physio), Cian Walsh (physio) and Andy Skehan (director of rugby).
LAST YEAR: Beaten by Belvedere (29-18) in 2nd round.
SQUAD: Cameron Baird, *Ryan Baird, Lee Barron, Jay Barron, *Jody Booth, Jack Boyle, Niall Carroll, Chris Cosgrave, Luke Dunne, Mark Earle, *Pierce Feeney, Luke Fehily, Fionn Finlay, Jonathan Fish, Jaco Gail, Ben Gannon, Tim Gilsenan, Rob Gilsenan, Charlie Greally, Robbie Griffin, Jack Guinane, Elliot Haran, Zach Harrison, Matthew Healy, *Chris Hennessy, Mark Hernan, Will Hickey, Caelan Kelleher, Ed Kelly, *Desmond McCarthy, Cian McGettigan, Hugh McGovern, Oisin McKenna, *David Moran, Mark O’Brien, *Dan O’Donovan, Simon O’Kelly, *Jeff O’Loughlin, Senan O’Shea, *Adam Peat, *Scott Penny, James Power, Ben Quigley, *David Ryan, Andrew Smith, Ben Victory, Ian Walsh and Jeffrey Woods.
THE special years were 2007 and 2012, particularly the latter when they became only the fifth school after Rock, Knock, Nure and Belvo to complete the coveted Junior and Senior double. Many of the younger generation will find it hard to believe that there was a time, up to the mid-’70s, when St Michael’s was, like Willow Park, a ‘mere’ feeder for Blackrock.
Times have changed — and how. Michael’s is now firmly established as one of the top six schools in the province. The number of quality players being turned out for Leinster and Ireland needs little elaboration and yet a return of just two outright successes from seven final appearances (the first in ’88, under Marc Evans’ captaincy) does scant justice to the hard graft and dedication of so many mentors from the likes of Noel Turley, Gary Coakley and Paul Barr through to present headmaster Tim Kelleher.
As one who has watched the leaner times as well as the good, there has always been a fine balance to Michael’s rugby.
And yet for all that, there lingers an element of‘ always the bridesmaid, seldom the bride’. Between 2006 and 2012 they made it through to six Junior finals, losing five before taking the trophy at the sixth attempt and for the third time in their history.
The fruits of that emphasis can be seen now at professional level and, following back-to-back finals in 2016 and ’17, the school is on the marchagainatU-16,withlast year’s Junior team arguably the best to represent the school at that age level.
It is time to translate promise and potential into trophies on the sideboard. Will Hickey was captain of that ‘J’ side and he is one of six, including Chris Cosgrave, Jack Boyle, Lee Baron, Jack Guinane and Eddie Kelly (younger brother of Jack) pressing for a place at Senior. Emmet McMahon is again head coach and Scott Penny the captain of another powerful panel that includes 11 from last year’s extended cup squad.
It is a squad littered with representative players. Openside flanker Penny, lock Ryan Baird, blind-side Jody Booth, full-back Cosgrave, prop Fionn Finlay, lock Jonathan Fish, No 8 Dan O’Donovan, wing Andrew Smith and centre David Ryan (younger brother of James) have represented Leinster at U-18, with Baird, O’Donovan, Penny and Ryan in the Ireland set-up at that level as well.
Baird, O’Donovan, Penny and Ryan, along with out-half Dave Moran and wing Jeff O’Loughlin, have all played for the Leinster U-19s this season. The friendly record is good. I attended the Rock game before Christmas and I can tell you the standard again this year is at the top of the scale.
While holders Belvedere will kick off this year’s competition against Gonzaga at Donnybrook in a mouth-watering curtain-raiser, the stand-out match by a distance will be the meeting between Michael’s and Terenure at the same venue the following day.
If a third outright success is to be achieved, they are sure going to have to do it the hard way.
TERENURE COLLEGE
MANAGEMENT: John Coffey (head coach), Aidan O’Reilly (manager), Harrison Brewer, Andrew Moss, Isaac Boss, Phillip Wallace, Ronan McNamara, Oisin Heffernan, Jim Pender, Sean Cronin, Peter Shaw (S&C), Jason Sherlock, Dr P Smyth, Dr C O’Kelly.
LAST YEAR: Beaten by Blackrock (27-7) in 2nd round.
SQUAD: *Ross McInnes, *Aaron Deegan, *Sam McCoy, *Levi Vaughan, *Jack Cooke, *Adam La Grue, *Sam Dardis, Tom Cadell, Harry Boyden, Mark Curley, Shane Curran, *Jamie Devlin (Captain), Alex Duff, *Patrick Heneghan, *Dominic Henry-Hayes, *Alex Kelly, *Luke Murnaghan, *Matthew O’Shea, *George Morgan, Conor Shenton, Jack Walsh, Matthew Woulfe, Luke Grady, Adam Byrne, *Adam Dunne, *Ben Morris, Alexander Dempsey, Andy Ciobanu, Charlie Harpur, Conor Hayes, Daniel Byrne, Eoghan Doherty, Henry Roberts, Josh Keegan, Luke McNamara, Matthew McGetrick-Stafford, Niall Dowling, Patsicorn Kidd, Peter Larkin, Sean Daly, Thomas Ruane, TJ Durran, Jack Townsend and James Cronin.
IF 1958 stands alone as the greatest year in Terenure College rugby history, 2013 must figure at the other end of that spectrum. That year was particularly disappointing because arguably the strongest Senior panel ever to represent the school failed to live up to its immense potential.
Having taken the Junior Cup comprehensively three years before (beating Michael’s 31-9 in the final as well as the year before that again with many of the same players) all pre-tournament evidence pointed to that hugely talented group led by Stephen O’Neill and including Harrison Brewer, Billy Dardis, Tim Schmidt, Rob and Adam Somerville going the whole way and in the process making up for 2009 (losing to Rock in the final) and bridging the gap on 2003.
Someone forgot to show Cistercian College the script in that Tallaght Stadium quarter-final, however, with Roscrea subsequently losing to Rock in an extraordinary semi and the trophy was Williamstown-bound once again.
It’s been a rough ride since although no sooner had that squad graduated than word was filtering through of another talented U-14 (first-year) group on the way. In 2015 they declared their credentials when only a last-minute Joey Caputo penalty for Rock (15-13) deprived Conor Sommerville’s team of a Junior trophy they would have richly deserved.
Jamie Devlin is ‘S’ captain of a squad that includes 14 of that Junior final match-day 23.
And in total there are 16 still on board from last year’s extended Cup panel beaten by Blackrock in the second round.
Sam Dardis is a brother of Billy and is cut from the same cloth. Along with centre Ross McInnes and flanker Jack Cooke, he has already represented Leinster U-18s, while Adam La Grue (another to watch) and Dominic Henry-Hayes (equally comfortable at out-half) have played for the provincial U-19s.
John Coffey is head coach and his assistants include Harrison Brewer, Isaac Boss, Oisin Heffernan and Sean Cronin. Great Nure stalwart and PE teacher Coffey is again at the helm and my moles tell me he has this group playing a vibrant brand of hightempo, attacking rugby.
Despite losing to Michael’s (26-0) in a pre-Christmas friendly, all signs point to a humdinger of a tie in the opening round on Monday week.
The only pity is that one of these two outstanding teams this time round will exit at the opening attempt.
We’ll make a prediction that the winner of this will be fully equipped to go the whole way.
Pressed for a potential dark horse, put Terenure alongside