Schools Semi Finals Set To Create History

The 107th Munster Schools Senior Cup has reached the semi final stage, setting up two mouthwatering local derby fixtures at Irish Independent Park and Thomond Park Stadium

Cork schools PBC and CBC will go head to head on Wednesday, 24th February in a much anticipated Senior Cup meeting between the two rivals, who share the honours of most Cup wins with 28 titles each to their credit.

Their last Senior Cup meeting was in 2009 in the semi final at Temple Hill where CBC, captained by Brian Hayes, were victorious, recording a 15-10 win. That year, the Sidney Hill side went on to claim the title against Rockwell College in the final.

CBC are the only Munster school to have won four titles in a row, a feat they have achieved on two occasions from 1971 to 1974 and 1997 to 2000.

PBC last claimed the title in 2010, beating Rockwell College 22-10 at Thomond Park Stadium under dual captains, Dave O’Mahony and current Munster hooker Niall Scannell.

Setting out to defend their title in 2011, in a repeat of the previous year’s final, the Lee-siders once again met Rockwell College who this time gained their revenge, defeating PBC 9-3 at Thomond Park Stadium.

Inclusive of their 28 titles, PBC achieved one three-in-row from 1991 to 1993 and again won the Cup soon after in 1995 when they were captained by former Munster and Ireland out-half Ronan O’Gara.

Thursday, 25th February promises to be an equally tantalising affair at Thomond Park Stadium when Limerick schools Crescent College Comprehensive and Castletroy College go head to head in the second semi final.

The schools last met in the 2014 semi final at Rosbrien which saw Crescent claim a 23-8 victory under the captaincy of Cormac Blake. The Dooradoyle school went on to win the title for their second year in a row against Ardscoil Rís, in the first ever all Limerick final since the competition’s inception in 1909.

Crescent College have 11 titles to their credit with two doubles claimed in 1989 and 1990 and more recently in 2013 and 2014.

With one title to their credit, 2008 was the last occasion that a new name was inscribed on the trophy when Castletroy College, captained by Paul Dooley, overcame CBC 21-15 in a thrilling decider at Dooradoyle.

Many of the Castletroy and Crescent senior representatives will know each other from the 2013 Junior Cup semi final when Castletroy College emerged victorious over Crescent, winning the Junior title for the second time in the school’s history.

Captained by Niall O’Shea the Castletory school will this year hope to win their second ever Munster Schools Senior Cup title.

The 2016 Senior Cup decider will be the first year a Cork and Limerick school will go head to head since Castletroy’s win over CBC in 2008 and promises, as ever, to be a competition finale not to be missed.

The last four finalists of the Munster Schools Junior Cup semi final will see CBC host Glenstal Abbey School and PBC host Crescent College Comprehensive, with both fixtures to take place in Cork.

CBC are current champions having claimed the 2015 title in Thomond Park with a 22-10 victory over Crescent College Comprehensive.

CBC have 17 titles to their credit but PBC lead the way with most titles won, with and impressive 29 to their tally since the competition began in 1932.

Crescent College Comprehensive have claimed 6 titles while Glenstal Abbey School, this year, will hope to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.