Leinster Senior Cup: DLSP are hoping that on Saturday it will be a case of third time lucky as the Kilternan club contest the Leddin Finance Leinster Senior Cup Final against Carlow at Donnybrook.

Beaten in the 1999 final by Clontarf, they suffered a second defeat last season (May 2003) when they succumbed to Saturday's opponents, Carlow.

This final will probably find its way into future rugby quizzes in terms of two Leinster Senior Cup finals being held in the same year.

The club's strong links with the De La Salle Churchtown school will make a win on Saturday even more enjoyable, as this marks the 20th anniversary of DLS Churchtown's first Leinster Schools Senior Cup victory.

Posters have appeared in recent weeks in the Sandyford and Kilternan areas of South Dublin to try to drum up support as coach Joe Parkes aims to lead the club to a historic first cup success.

The immediacy of last season's defeat, particularly against the club which inflicted it, guarantee a determined DLSP attitude come the weekend.

One player who knows what it is like to win a cup medal is former Leinster back row and current DLSP number eight Declan O'Brien. Ironically, O'Brien helped Clontarf to beat DLSP in the 1999 final.

The team also includes Romanian international Mihai Vioreanu, former Connacht interprovincial Damien McCabe and the first man to play 100 consecutive games in the All-Ireland League, 33-year-old scrumhalf Brian Hogan.

Simon Broughton captains the team from outhalf, while Conor Hickey, a brother of former Ireland Schools and Under-21 international outhalf Eoghan, will assume the place-kicking responsibilities.

Peter Lennon's arrival from Trinity during the summer gives the team options in the lineout, while prop Keith Taite has played for the Leinster Under -21 team.

Come what may, there will be a celebration in Kilternan on Saturday night as the occasion will double as the club's Christmas party: their only wish for a certain piece of silverware.