Munster Senior Cup/CBC v PBC Musgrave Park:While their semi-final victories were replete with injury time drama, today's Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup final between Cork city rivals CBC and PBC at Musgrave Park has the potential to conjure up just as much excitement.
Niall Courtney's injury time try gave Christians victory over St Munchin's, but the build-up to that score highlighted what is best about Peter Melia's side. Star forwards John Ryan, Andrew Cudmore and Brian O'Callaghan picked and drove relentlessly up the middle of the field, before their three quarters were released for the match-clinching try.
Melia aspires to play a 15-man game, and if that late semi-final cameo can be replicated for longer periods today, then Pres will need to be really vigilant.
Absent from Christians' midfield today is Pat Parfrey, who picked up a cruciate ligament injury in the first half against Munchin's. Parfrey's loss will be keenly felt, but the half back partnership of Chris Nolan and Robbie O'Donoghue are gelling nicely and their line-breaking abilities will be instrumental in giving CBC proper go-forward ball.
CBC's last senior cup success came in 2003 when they beat today's rivals.
That was a star-laden team. The 2007 class do not have any Ireland internationals, "no stars" says Melia, but it has developed a strong collective resolve. "Because you don't look to any one individual to pull a game out of the fire, it's a collective focus. And it has brought us great dividends in the latter end of the season," says Melia.
Pres relied on an incredible last minute conversion by Ireland under-19 out half Scott Deasy in their semi-final win over Crescent to propel the Mardyke College into their sixth successive final. Don Buckley's side will also be eager to replicate the 2005 final result over CBC, which they won 6-3.
Pres looked every inch a champion side in their 13-0 quarter final win over Rockwell - Deasy scored all his side's points - but their path to the final hasn't entirely revolved around the excellence of their out half.
While CBC have a real star in loose head prop John Ryan, his counterpart, Peter Kelleher, possesses all the attributes to go on and enjoy a fruitful career at the highest level. Kelleher also takes on the duty of lineout throwing, but is most effective in the loose.
Set pieces could go along way to deciding the outcome, and it's why the battle between the respective locks should prove an intriguing sub-plot. PBC's Michael Kenefick was on song against Rockwell in the quarter-final, and though his influence was less apparent against Crescent, his duel with Tom Keogh should be fascinating.
"We know we're in for a searching examination particularly up front and it's something we're aware of and prepared for," says Buckley.
A kick of a ball could decide this tie. Ultimately it could come down to the place-kicking of either Deasy or CBC full back Odhran Mulrooney.
CBC:O Mulrooney; D Loftus, N Courteney, C Martin, Shaun McCarthy; R O'Donoghue, C Nolan; J Ryan, A Cudmore, J Bransfield; T Keogh, K O'Dwyer; R O'Connor, Shane McCarthy (capt), B O'Callaghan. Replacements:A Foley, S Walsh, J Mulcahy, J Crowley, B O'Regan, C Horgan, B Fleming.
PBC:G Nugent; T Cullinane, A Rose, B Kelleher, S Zebo; S Deasy, D O'Driscoll; P Kelleher, R Corkery, R DarmD Tuohy, M Kenefick; N Barry, B O'Hara, P O'Mahony. Replacements:B Cagney, E O'Mahony, D Tuohy, J Coyne, C O'Mahony, C O'Flynn, J McCarthy.
Referee: L Colgan(Mar)
Verdict:Pres to win.
