Schools' Rugby: Blackrock College against Terenure College will be the first heavyweight battle of this season's Leinster Schools' Senior Cup. The two rugby nurseries with the most titles were paired together in the opening round while the defending champions, Belvedere College, are expected to meet the victors in the semi-final.
The winners of Blackrock/Terenure play either Roscrea or Kilkenny College but Belvedere, with 11 of last year's winning 22 back again, must overcome a qualifier and, possibly, fellow Jesuits Gonzaga.
The top half of the draw gives St Mary's a fairly clean run to the last four with St Gerard's and probably Castleknock their opponents.
St Michael's have a tricky opener against Presentation Bray before a probable quarter-final collision with Clongowes Wood.
Like last year, Setanta Sports will be in Donnybrook and eventually Lansdowne Road to televise live and deferred viewing through the first three months of next year. The competition gets underway on January 29th when Blackrock play Terenure at Leinster headquarters.
The improved back pitch in Donnybrook, where railings will be erected, will also be utilised for several games.
The Junior Cup produced a completely lob-sided draw as all the potential winners are squashed together in the bottom half.
In round one alone, St Mary's play Terenure and defending champions Belvedere play Clongowes.
The winners are likely to meet St Michael's and Blackrock in the quarter-finals.
Lions, Ireland and Leinster captain Brian O'Driscoll conducted the draw last night in the Lansdowne RFC club house.
An ideal opportunity to see the players who will dominate this season's senior competition arrives on Saturday as Ireland under-19 play Australia Schools in Donnybrook at 2pm.
The Irish Schoolboys' trial also takes place on Saturday, also at 2pm, in Blackrock College.
FR GODFREY CUP
Round One (2.30pm). All 18th January 2006 A: Cistercian College Roscrea v St Gerard's School (Cill Dara); B: Templeogue College v Castlecomer Community School (Naas); C: The High School v Wesley College (Kilternan); D: Mount Temple v De La Salle Churchtown (Sydney Parade). Round Two (3pm) All 25th January 2006 E: Kilkenny College v CUS (Naas); F: A v B (Kilternan / Athy); G: C v D (Coolmine); H: St Patrick's, Navan v The King's Hospital (Barnhall). The winners will be Qualifiers 1, 2 ,3 ,4.
JUNIOR CUP
Round One (3pm) A: Qualifier 4 v Presentation College Bray (Donnybrook, back pitch, 7th February); B: Gonzaga College v St Andrew's College (Sydney Parade, 6th February); C: Qualifier 1 v Newbridge College (Naas/Athy, 6th February); D: CBC Monkstown v Qualifier 2 (Athy/Naas, 6th February); E: St Mary's College v Terenure College (Donnybrook, 6th February); F: St Michael's College v Castleknock College (Donnybrook, 8th February); G: Qualifier 3 v Blackrock College (Donnybrook, 9th February); H: Belvedere College v Clongowes Wood College (Donnybrook, 5th February). Round two (3.30pm) I: A v B (Donnybrook, 27th February); J: C v D (Donnybrook, 28th February); K: E v F (Donnybrook, 2nd March); L: G v H (Donnybrook, 5th March). Semi-final (4.15pm) M: I v J (Donnybrook, 13th March); N: K v L (Donnybrook, 14th March). Final (3.30pm) Donnybrook, 26th March.
