Munster Schools King Cup

The Munster Schools King Cup final takes place on Friday, with High School CBS Clonmel and Limerick s St. Clement s Redemptorist College meeting to contest this Junior title

MUNSTER SCHOOLS KING CUP FINAL PREVIEW

High School CBS, Clonmel v St. Clement s Redemptorist College, Limerick Friday 15th April, Bruff RFC, 2.30pm

The Munster Schools King Cup final takes place on Friday, with High School CBS Clonmel and Limerick s St. Clement s Redemptorist College meeting in the battle for the title in this Junior competition.

Having contested a number of Mungret Shield finals in the last number of years, this is the first year that St. Clement s have been involved in the King Cup. Under the direction of coaches Mike Lynch, John Sheehan and Owen O Toole, many of the players on the team play club rugby with Young Munster, and enjoy the full support of the club in developing the school game. In the first round, St. Clement s defeated St. Fintan s CBS in Doon, while St. Enda s Community School were the opponents in the second round. In the semi final, St. Clement s had a 15-3 victory over the Patrician Academy in Mallow, with tries from Cathal O Reilly and Declan Brown, with Brown converting his own try and adding a penalty to his tally. Other players central to St. Clement s team include captain Nigel Clancy at No. 8. with the talented ball carrier Simon Ryan joining him in the back row. Prop Richard Healy has made a great impact this season along with Ben Fitzgerald in the second row. Twins Christopher and Stephen O Grady head up the back line attack. Regrettably, talented inside centre Declan Brown won t be lining out with the team on Friday after breaking his thumb, while full back Shane Garry will also miss the final after sustaining a cruciate ligament injury.

In its first year entering a competition at Junior level, High School CBS Clonmel have had a remarkable run in the competition. With their Senior team winning the O Brien Cup last year, High School CBS have now found themselves contesting two finals in two seasons. It s a fantastic achievement for a school that only started playing rugby just over a decade ago. With coaches such as Brendan Mullan and Eddie Dillon, and the expertise of Irish international hooker Jean Lonergan who teaches in the school, rugby has gone from strength to strength. The school enjoys fantastic relations with Clonmel RFC, with many of the players involved in the club. In their first round game, High School CBS travelled to Colaiste Phobal Roscrea, and won 15-7. They hosted The Abbey School from Tipperary town in the second round and had a 15-0 victory, while in the semi final they had a tough game away against Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig and came away with a 7-5 win. Leading the attack will be captain Greg Carroll who plays at centre, with David Hoyne at full back will command the kicking duties. Wingers Dale Philips and Aidan Carr have plenty of pace; while in the pack, prop Mark Corby and wing forward Paul Denn have had a great season.