Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Cups Launched in Cork

Munster stars Anthony Horgan, James Coughlan and Tomas O’ Leary were on hand at Presentations Brothers College in Cork to offer their support to the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Cup competitions which are approaching the final stages.

Kieran O’Connor, Sponsorship Manager Glanbia; Munster’s James Coughlan, Anthony Horgan and Tomas O’Leary; Ultan O’Callaghan, Provincial Domestic Games Manager, Munster Rugby; Kevin Hanrahan, Area Sales, Glanbia; Nicholas Comyn, Munster Junior Vice President and Tony Smith, Chairman Munster Schools with Scott Deasy, captain PBC senior team and Niall Barry, Vice captain

At the launch Glanbia, under their Avonmore Milk brand, announced details of their 2007 Munster Rugby Schools Cup sponsorship. The sponsorship package includes the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior, Junior and Youths Cups as well as the Avonmore Milk Fair Play and Performance Awards.

The Munster Schools Senior and Junior Cups remain the most prestigious competitions in schools rugby in Munster, and never fail to catch the imagination of rugby fans all over the province, with the involvement of old rivalries and new squads creating exciting opportunities to see the rugby stars of the future in action.

With the quarter finals of the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup taking place this week, the competition remains the premier age grade competition in Munster and the highlight of the schools rugby calendar. A long standing sporting tradition, the competition has run since 1909. On Wednesday Presentations Brothers College and Rockwell College meet in Musgrave Park, while Ard Scoil Ris and Crescent College Comprehensive face off in Thomond Park. On Thursday defending champions St. Munchin’s College play Castletroy College in Dooradoyle with the last quarter final taking place on Saturday when Glenstal Abbey School and Christian Brothers College Cork vie for the last semi final place.

As the premier under 15 schools competitions in the province, the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup competition continues with the revitalised format introduced last season, ensuring that the last eight schools in the competition will have at least two matches in three rounds of quarter finals, rather than a straight knock out. Round One quarter final qualifying games have already taken place, with second round games set to take place next week.

As in previous seasons the Avonmore Milk Fair Play and Performance Awards will be presented to the Schools who the judges select for playing rugby in a fair, competitive and sporting manner. Along with their Award the winning school will also receive a Sports Equipment Voucher.

Speaking at the launch, Garrett Fitzgerald, CEO, Munster Rugby said, "We at Munster Rugby are delighted once again to welcome Avonmore Milk as sponsors of two of the most important areas for the development of Munster Rugby namely Schools and Youths Rugby. The Senior and Junior Schools Cup sponsorship which we launch today is vital in maintaining the tradition and profile of these great Cup Competitions in Munster.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Joe Collum, Marketing Director, Glanbia Foods said, "We at Glanbia are delighted to be associated with Munster Rugby who have been fantastic ambassadors not alone for Rugby in Ireland but for all Irish sport. As a pure food company with a wide range of dairy products we believe our involvement with both schools and youth’s rugby in the province is an ideal mix in promoting a healthy lifestyle for our youth through sport and healthy diet. The association of our Avonmore Milk brand with Munster Schools and Youths has been very successful over the past two seasons and we are eagerly looking forward to the 2007 Schools Cup Campaign."

Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup Quarter Finals.

Wednesday 7th February: PBC v. Rockwell College. Musgrave Park. 3pm.

Wednesday 7th February: Ard Scoil Ris v. Crescent College Comprehensive. Thomond Park. 3pm.

Thursday 8th February: St. Munchin’s v. Castletroy. Dooradoyle. 3pm.

Saturday 10th February: Glenstal v. CBC. Clanwilliam. 3pm.

Results to date:
Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup

Quarter Final Qualifiers – Round 1
St. Munchin’s College 8 Castletroy College 20
CBC 5 PBC 14
Rockwell College 8 Ard Scoil Ris 10
Glenstal 0 Crescent College Comprehensive 22

Quarter Final Qualifiers – Round 2
St. Munchin’s College v. CBC. Tues 13th February. Venue TBA (Limerick). 3pm. ET
Castletroy College v. PBC. Wed, 14th February. Venue TBA (Limerick) 3pm ET
Rockwell v. Glenstal. Wednesday, 14th February. Clonmel. 3 pm. ET
Ard Scoil Ris v. Crescent Date TBA. Venue TBA (Limerick). 3pm. ET