CHRISTIAN Brothers College, Cork retain four of last year's successful team as they defend the Munster Schools' Senior Cup title against St Munchin's College, Limerick in Thomond Park today (3.30). Kick-off has been deferred by half an hour in order to accommodate those who want to partake in the St Patrick's Day festivities in the city.
Fullback Tadhg Daly, centre Eoin Daly (no relation), left wing Ken O'Leary and scrumhalf Pat McCarthy were members of the CBC team that beat arch rivals PBC Cork in last year's final at Musgrave Park. Today they chase a 25th title but must overcome a St Munchin's side that has already defeated them this season.
CBC will look to their place-kicking scrumhalf McCarthy to demonstrate the ability that won him an Ireland schools cap against Australia at Ravenhill last December. The Cork school boast a fifth participant from last season, hooker Ben Kidd, who came on as a replacement prop in the final. CBC, despite the role as defending champions and the presence of former Munster senior coach Garrett Fitzgerald and Greg Aherne on the sidelines, will require a performance commensurate with last season's when they surprised Pres to conjure a victory.
St Munchin's can not match their opponents' Senior Cup pedigree with only two cup successes but with four Munster interprovincials - Lesley Hogan, Colm Tucker, captain Conor Hartigan and Peter Malone - they possess the quality to snatch the honours.
The Limerick school's last success in the competition was in 1982 - 1968 was their only other victory - when Philip Danaher and Shannon supremo Pat Murray were integral figures in that win.
Four of last season's team return, fullback David O'Donovan, Hogan, Tucker and Hartigan. Within that pool there are some famous genes: hooker Colm Tucker is the son of former Lions and Ireland flanker Colm while Hartigan's brother Kevin plays in the centre for the Ireland under-21 side. Number eight Malone has also been selected for the Ireland under-19 squad to travel to Wales next week where they will defend the FIRA World Cup title. The one disappointment for St Munchin's is the absence of left wing John Lynch who crashed into a pitch side hoarding in the semi-final, damaging a knee and unfortunately has been deprived of a final appearance. Greg Clarke deputises.
Paths To The Final
CBC Cork - CBC Cork 18 PBC Cork 3; CBC Cork 43 Glenstal Abbey 10.
St Munchin's - St Munchin's 13 Rockwell 8; St Munchin's 26 Crescent Comprehensive 17.
CBC CORK: T Daly; P Quinlan, E Daly, K Lucey, K O'Leary; C Quaid, P McCarthy; M Cosgrave, B Kidd, B O'Connell; B O'Mahony, R Wade; F Cogan, J Coughlan, D Keohane (capt).
ST MUNCHIN'S: D O'Donovan; J P Aherne, J Stokes, G Ryan, G Clarke; J O'Brien, E Cahill; L Hogan, C Tucker, P Keogh; A Laffan, G Noonan; W Dalton, P Malone, C Hartigan (capt).
