Munster Schools Rugby

The draws for the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior and Junior Cups have been made, with the preliminary rounds kicking off this month.

Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior and Junior Cup Draws

The draw for the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior and Junior Cups have been made, with 35 schools set to compete in the Senior Cup competition and 38 schools set to compete for the Junior Cup competition. Both competitions get underway this month with a number of preliminary rounds, before the final stages in February and March of next year. As the premier age grade rugby competitions in Munster, the Avonmore Milk Senior and Junior Cups provide a platform for the cream of Munster s young talent to display their skills.

Last year s beaten finalists, Christian Brother s College Cork, will face the Mungret Cup champions in their quarter final clash. The Senior Cup competition incorporates the Mungret Cup and the O’ Brien Cup, with the preliminary rounds getting underway this month. The losers of Rounds 1 and 2 qualify for the O’ Brien Cup, while the winners of Round 2 qualify for the Mungret Cup. The winner of the Mungret Cup qualifies for the Quarter-Finals of the Senior Cup. Last year, it was St. Nessan s Community College who claimed the Mungret Cup after defeating Midleton College, but their pairing against PBC in the Senior Cup quarter final meant they were unable to advance in the competition.

Defending champions Presentation Brothers College Cork will open the defence of their title when they take on Glenstal Abbey School in their quarter final clash. Glenstal were knocked out of the competition last year at the quarter final stage by a single point by Crescent College Comprehensive. Last year s win for PBC was their first title since 1996, so they will be anxious to hold onto it for another year when their campaign opens.

In an all Limerick clash, last year s semi finalists Crescent College Comprehensive will face Ardscoil Ris in a local derby, with their Junior teams also due to square up in the quarter finals of the Munster Junior Cup competition. Crescent suffered defeat at the hands of eventual champions PBC last year, while Ardscoil Ris didn t advance beyond the quarter final stage last year after being beaten by CBC.

The last quarter final is a repeat of last year s pairing of St. Munchin s College and Rockwell College. On that occasion, St. Munchin s advanced, but the 2004 champions were unable to hold off CBC in their semi final.

The Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup incorporates the Mungret Shield and the King Cup. The losers of Rounds 1 and 2 qualify for the King Cup while the winners of Round 2 qualify for the Mungret Shield. The winner of the Mungret Shield qualifies for the Quarter-Finals of the Junior Cup. This year the B School qualifier faces a tough draw against last year s beaten finalists, Christian Brothers College Cork, who will certainly be aiming to make up for the disappointment of losing both the Senior and Junior Cup finals.

Defending champions Ardscoil Ris have been drawn against Crescent College Comprehensive in their quarter final fixture. It promises to be a tough battle, as Crescent only narrowly missed out on a place in last year s final having been beaten by CBC after a replay. In the other quarter final draws, Castletroy College take on St. Munchin s College, while Rockwell College face Presentation Brothers College.

Senior Cup Quarter Finals– all played the first two weeks of February

Presentation Brothers College v Glenstal Abbey School

Christian Brothers College v B School

Crescent College Comprehensive v Ardscoil Ris

St. Munchin s College v Rockwell College

Junior Cup Quarter Finals

Castletroy v St. Munchin s College

Christian Brothers College v B School

Rockwell College v Presentation Brothers College

Crescent College Comprehensive v Ardscoil Ris