Avonmore Schools Cup Launch

Munster players Conor Murray, Mike Sherry and Tommy O’ Donnell were on hand yesterday to launch the 2012 Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior and Junior Schools Cups at the University of Limerick.

The 102nd Senior Schools Cup kicks off in the coming weeks with Cork, Limerick and Tipperary schools in action.

Current holders Rockwell College commence their campaign with a game against Glenstal Abbey School in early February.

There will be a new Junior Schools Cup this season. The old Cup which was introduced in 1932 has been retired to the Munster Rugby Museum in Thomond Park. Castletroy College sponsored a new cup in memory of the late Eamonn Mulcahy a teacher at the school and coach to the winning Junior Cup side in 2008.

Speaking on behalf of the sponsors, Kieran O’Connor, Glanbia Sponsorship Manager said “Glanbia are delighted to continue our association with Munster Rugby through sponsorship of Schools Rugby in the Province. As a pure food company, with a wide range of dairy and nutritional 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 young people through sport and healthy diet”.

The association of our Avonmore Super Milk brand with Munster Schools has been very successful over the past seven seasons and we are eagerly looking forward to the 2012 Schools Cup Campaigns and our continued sponsorship of the Munster Schools Teams. It is great to see so many the former Schools players of recent years now playing with Munster including Conor Murray St Munchins, Billy Holland CBC, Ian Nagle, Glenstal Abbey School, Paul O’Connell Ard Scoil Ris and Ronan O’Gara PBC to name but a few ”

John Hartery Junior Vice President of the Munster Branch also commented “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”

Avonmore Milk Senior Cup: Round 1: Midleton College v Ard Scoil Ris, Towns Park, Midleton (Jan 18).

Round 2: Castletroy v St Munchins, VTBC (January 31); CBC v Midleton or Ard Scoil Ris VTBC (February 1); PBC v Crescent College Comprehensive, Musgrave Park (February 1); Glenstal v Rockwell, VTBC (February 2).

Avonmore Milk Junior Cup Round 1: St Clements v Castletroy, St Clements (Jan 25).

Round 2: Rockwell v St Clements or Castletroy, VTBC (February 7); Ard Scoil Ris v Glenstal, VTBC (February 7); Crescent College Comprehensive v PBC, VTBC (February 8); CBC v St Munchins, Musgrave Park (February 8).

Tommy O'Donnell, Conor Murray and Mike Sherry pictured with the Avonmore Milk Schools Cups

Conor Murray, Kieran O'Connor, Damien Philpott, John Hartery and Mike Sherry pictured at the launch