Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup Final

PBC and CBC have named unchanged starting teams for the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup Final clash at Musgrave Park (Thurs 3pm), with just one change on the PBC bench

COUNTDOWN TO THE MUNSTER SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP FINAL Both PBC and CBC have named unchanged starting line-ups for their Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup Final clash at Musgrave Park on Thursday (3pm).

PBC have stuck with the same starting 15, that played in their semi final clash with Crescent College Comprehensive. The only change is on the bench with Ciaran McGrath replacing Rory Love. CBC will line out as per their semi final game with St. Munchin s College. Presentation Brothers College: 15. Scott Deasy, 14. Shane Costigan, 13. Brian Dennehy, 12. Tim Kenneally, 11. Sean McKeown, 10. Gavin Dunne, 9. Sam Cronin (captain), 1. Jason Carton, 2. Michael O Leary, 3. Neil Burke, 4. Richard McCarthy, 5. Robert Allen, 6. Traolach Hennebry, 7. Jack O Driscoll, 8. Eamon Nugent Replacements 16. Matt Kearney, 17. Niall McCarthy, 18. Ruairi Martin, 19. Ciaran McGrath, 20. Karl Rothwell, 21. Jeff Power, 22. Michael Keyes.

Christian Brothers College: 15. Peter O Sullivan, 14. Gavin Blower, 13. Ivan Dinneen, 12. Frederic Chesne, 11. Kevin Doyle, 10. Alan Coughlan, 9. Christopher Nolan, 1. Karl O Donoghue, 2. David Nathan, 3. Ronan O Neill, 4. Kieran Essex, 5. Rogan Gee, 6. Shane O Sullivan, 7. Colin Liston, 8. Don Keogh (Captain) Replacements> 16. Jamie Erangey, 17. Stephen Archer, 18. Peter Murphy, 19. Tom Martin, 20. Steven Donovan, 21. Liam Melia, 22. John Noonan

In a repeat of the 2003 final, Christian Brothers College and Presentation Brothers College will meet on St. Patrick s Day to compete for the most prestigious title in Schools rugby.

Pride, tradition and bragging rights are all at stake, with both teams determined to fight their corner and claim the mantle of champions.

PBC haven t won the Cup since 1996, but have competed in the last three Senior Cup finals without success, and so they will be determined to make amends. CBC will be hoping to recapture the title they last won in 2003.

A massive crowd is expected at Musgrave Park on the day, with the promise of an exceptional rugby game, with some of the best young talent in Munster on display.

Leading the way in the PBC camp is captain and scrum half Sam Cronin, who has been magnificent throughout the competition. The half back partnership of Cronin and Gavin Dunne is an exciting one, and are sure to come out with all guns blazing.

One of the key forwards Traolach Hennebry has also had a fantastic season, scoring against St. Nessan s in the quarter final and Crescent College Comprehensive in the semi final. Others to watch out for include prop Michael O Leary, and Eamon Nugent in the back row, who form the backbone of the powerful PBC pack.

In the quarter final, PBC had a convincing 29-0 win over St. Nessan s Community College, while in their semi final, they had a 19-5 win over Crescent College Comprehensive.

The contest between PBC s captain Sam Cronin and his opposite number Christopher Nolan will be one of the great battles of the day.

Nolan is an inspired player, demonstrating a maturity beyond his years. On the wings, CBC have two terrific players in Gavin Blower and Kevin Doyle, with Peter O Sullivan at full back very solid.

Captain Don Keogh at No. 8 leads by example, and will surely have the CBC pack fired up on the day.

Although beating Ard Scoil Ris in the quarter finals by just five points, CBC turned on the heat in their semi final against defending champions St. Munchin s College and won the game in the dying moments, proving that they are dangerous at any stage in the game.