Schools' Rugby/Leinster Senior Cup final: The best of rivals, a relationship forged at schools level and perpetuated through senior careers. John O'Sullivan reports.
Today, at Lansdowne Road, the two top schools in Dublin 6 collide, the honour and glory and silverware important, but so too the bragging rights; something to tide the players over in sepia-tinted bar-room recollections in later life.
No matter what players go on to achieve in the sport, a schools' cup winner's medal is a treasured possession and the poignancy of today's occasion exaggerated by the "parish" connection.
While the on-pitch collisions will be immense, on the other side of the touchline, the entente couldn't be more cordial.
Clive Byrne, principal at St Mary's College, when not presiding over the senior team selection, speaks warmly of his Terenure College counterpart Father Eanna and the excellent relationship between the two schools.
At one point in the conversation he encapsulates "a very good rivalry", thus "if we win then it'll be great for all concerned. If we don't then at least the cup is staying in Dublin 6."
Educated at St Vincent's, Glasnevin, Byrne spent many years coaching the senior team in Mount Temple and the Leinster Schools' Section A side before a brief sojourn at Presentation Glasthule pre-empted his arrival at the Rathmines School.
In his third year involved with the SCT, he has already enjoyed the ultimate success, last year's cup triumph when St Mary's defeated Belvedere in the final.
Never in the history of the school have they won back-to-back triumphs.
Byrne is keen to deflect the spotlight singling out the coterie of coaches that guide St Mary's fortunes from forwards' guru Dave Breslin to former Ireland and Lions full back Rodney O'Donnell, presiding over the backs and sundry input from John Kilbride, Ciarán O'Donnell and John Wynne.
In summing up the team's chances he ventured: "If we play as well as we can it will take a very good team to beat us."
Padraig Forde is in his first season coaching the SCT at Terenure College, "promoted" after Des Thornton decided to take a well-earned break, is conversant with success and failure on a finals day.
As a player he won three Dublin Senior Football Championships, a Leinster Championship and sat on the bench for Kilmacud Crokes' All-Ireland club triumph against Bellaghy in 1995.
In his 11th year as a teacher at Terenure, he coached the Junior Cup team for five years, 1994-98 and during that period watched teams twice lose a final, to Blackrock in 1995 and St Mary's in 1997.
Educated at St Patrick's Classical school in Navan he won a Harry Gale (provinces under-19) Cup medal playing alongside David Beggy. He enjoyed a sabbatical of his own over the past couple of seasons, helping out with the under-14s so as to spend more time with his young family.
When the call came at Easter, prior to the college's trip to New Zealand - they played four matches there - he had no hesitation.
"It was a fantastic experience and allowed us the opportunity to do a little bit of work with this year's team. We tried not to push them too hard as there is no point in playing your best rugby prior to Christmas," he said.
Terenure's pre-cup record was impressive, unbeaten against Leinster opposition - they drew 6-6 with St Mary's on a sodden pitch in torrential rain - they were beaten by Colstons (11-10) and St Munchin's (7-5). The latter match they fielded an amalgam of first and seconds players.
Terenure lost captain, full back and third-year veteran David Cazabon through injury in their opening game against Wesley College and, despite a tremendous battle to rehabilitate in time, he is named on the bench. In his absence, Robert McCarthy has been outstanding at full back.
St Mary's were dealt a significant blow when outstanding openside flanker Alex Hutchinson was diagnosed with a hairline fracture of the forearm after the drawn game against Blackrock and he misses the final.
They coped admirably in the replay victory, but Hutchinson would be a loss to any side.
There is little to choose between the sides and while the bookmakers make St Mary's slight favourites, those who witnessed Terenure's facility to raise the level of previous performances against Belvedere in the semi-final will have noted the team's true capabilities.
The match will present a contrast in styles, Terenure seeking a high tempo, launching their forwards through the midfield and adopting expansive patterns while St Mary's favour the more studied approach. They prefer a more structured and controlled style, relying on their impressive pack in which captain Paul Nash and tighthead Brian McGovern have been superb, and the control of Jonathan Sexton at outhalf.
Those seeking omens may note Donal Dunlop captained Terenure in their last cup success while brother Alex leads this year's team in Cazabon's absence. The last time the sides met in a final (1969), Mick Finlay senior and Liam Grissing played; their sons Michael Jnr and the excellent Stephen, form a midfield partnership for St Mary's today.
There is nothing to chose between the teams and it is down to which side manages to impose their patterns to greater effect.
Having been spectacularly wide of the mark so far this season, I'll apologise to St Mary's in advance.
TERENURE COLLEGE: R McCarthy; R Doyle, G Byrne, R Harrison, A Sherlock; C Gildea, D Brophy; M Hamilton, K Molloy, N McCann; B Murphy, B Moroney; K O'Malley-Farrell, A Dunlop (capt), A O'Donoghue.
ST MARY'S COLLEGE: P Brophy; G Roche, S Grissing, M Finlay, E Lernihan; J Sexton, B McDermott; M Houlihan, D Fallon, B McGovern; B Smith, N Brew; P Nash (capt), G O'Meara, C McInerney.
PATHS TO THE FINAL
Terenure College: bt Wesley 18-12; bt Castleknock 26-15; bt Belvedere 14-9.
St Mary's College: bt Clongowes 6-3; bt CBC Monkstown 29-3; drew with Blackrock 6-6; bt Blackrock 7-3.
Leinster Senior Cup wins: Terenure 9. St Mary's 5.
Last meeting in a cup final (1969): St Mary's 10 Terenure 9.
Previous meeting this season (pre-cup friendly): St Mary's 6 Terenure 6.
Leading points scorers: Terenure - Gary Byrne 22. St Mary's College - Jonathan Sexton 18.
Referee: D Keane (IRFU).
St Mary's v Terenure, Lansdowne Road, 3.30 Highlights: Net 2 (7.30)
