Munster Senior Cup final: They are the old firm of Munster schools' rugby, who not only rule the roost in Cork but in the province, and there could be no more fitting finale to the Coca-Cola Munster Schools' Senior Cup than a St Patrick's Day meeting between those fiercest of rivals, Christian Brothers Cork and Presentation Brothers Cork. Gerry Thornley reports.
Past pupils will fly in from all over the world to swell an anticipated crowd of 7-10,000 for the first final between the pair in five years, and today's match-up is given added resonance by Christians heading their rivals on the Munster roll of honour with 26 senior cups to Presentation's 25.
The only two rugby playing schools in Cork, and scarcely half a mile apart as the crow flies, genealogy rather than geography dictates the terms of the rivalry. "So there's no pressure," jokes Christians coach Peter Melia.
As an "outsider" from Liverpool and one-time team-mate of Mike Slemen, who came to teach in Christians 12 years ago, Melia observes that "during mini-camps together or the interpro series, they really do get along very well, and when they go on to UCC they become the best of friends. But during the previous six years in school they hardly talk to each other. It's hard to put your finger on it, but it certainly has got a rivalry all of its own. It's just unique."
The Cork cognoscenti make Christians favourites, and on the premise that packs win matches, and backs by how much, there would seem to be strong enough grounds for this viewpoint. Even though Christians have a young enough pack, five of them were on this season's Munster schools' team. Blindside flanker Billy Holland, son of manager Jerry Holland, openside Michael Essex, number eight Jonathan Harte, first cousin of Brian O'Driscoll, and loosehead Daragh Hurley are all under 17, while the fifth interpro in their pack is lock and captain Ross Noonan.
Behind them they have accomplished halfbacks in Duncan Williams, scrumhalf on an Irish schools' XV in a couple of trial matches over Christmas, and goalkicking outhalf Eamon Ronan, who understudied his Presentation counterpart, Evan Ryan, on the Munster team. Williams' head-to-head with his chief rival for the Irish number nine jersey, David O'Leary, will be a fascinating duel in its own right.
Presentation's greater experience of big matches probably helped pull them through a tricky 26-21 semi-final win over Árd Scoil Rís. Yet it is worth noting that in the Junior Cup final three years ago - perhaps the most relevant formguide - Pres beat Christians 12-0. They also overcame their Cork rivals 6-5 in last year's semi-finals before losing to St Munchin's in the decider.
Last year's semi-final was very much a setpiece affair, though the hope prevails that the final will prompt something akin to the last time they met in the decider, when Christians won a memorable encounter by 27-22.
That was during Christians' four-in-a-row between 1997 to 2000, following Presentation's dominance during Declan Kidney's time at the school in the early and mid-90s which culminated in their most recent cup triumph in '96.
Captained by openside flanker Rory Geoghegan, who also captained the Munster schools this season, they have a very good scrumhalf in O'Leary, son of former Constitution winger Ian, who is also one of the team's coaches, and real potency out wide in pacey wings Finbar Dennehy and Edward Mills, though influential full back David Kingston is doubtful with a hamstring injury picked up in the semi-final.
Against that, lock Seamus Clinch, who only played the last 10 minutes of the semi-final after breaking his leg before Christmas, has fought his way back into the starting line-up.
Melia admits that denying the talented Pres backs ball is an integral part of their strategy, while Pres will want to play it as fast, as loose and as wide as often as they can.
PATHS TO THE FINAL
CBC: bt Crescent Comprehensive 34-3; bt St Munchin's College 23-12.
PBC: bt Newtown School 39-12; bt Árd Scoil Rís 26-21.
CBC CORK: MJ Aherne; J O'Hanlon, J McCarthy, K Mitchell, G Blower; E Ronan, D Williams; D Hurley, J Kerins, R Hasson, R Noonan (capt), A Kelly, B Holland, J Harte, M Essex. Replacements: N Finneran, G Keane, B Shannon, E Mackey, A Ryan, B O'Keefe, D Keohane.
PBC CORK: AN Other; F Dennehy, T Gleeson, A Kelleher, E Mills; E Ryan, D O'Leary; M Gately, J Moynihan, B Barry, C Kenefick, S Clinch, D Daly, D Long, R Geoghegan. Replacements (from): F Moynihan, J Sommerfield, D Prendergast, S Cronin, Dan O'Connell, David O'Connell, K McCarthy, J Philpott, C Fitzgibbon, S Boylan, E Nugent, D Kingston.
PBC v CBC, Musgrave Park, 2.30
