Old School ties are plucked from the darkest recess in a thousand closets, threadbare scarves decades old dusted down for the seasonal outing, past pupils, young and old, determined to bask in the reflected glory of the old alma mater. The Leinster Schools Senior Cup - equally applicable to Ulster and Munster - silently beckons to pupils and those who have long since seen the back of the school gates.
Schools Cup rugby is unique, the outlet for teenage fantasy and heartache removed from the harsh realities of modern rugby. The glare of the media is softened by a recognition of callow youth and the purity of endeavour. Indeed pressure largely comes from within, whereby hours spent on the training pitches among the bigger schools are more reminiscent of the professional game.
The cold winds of January and early February will extinguish the hopes and aspirations of 50 per cent of the 24 teams competing: 12 teams will train for four a half months to manage 70 minutes of competitive fare. It is the same year after year. In terms of time expended training against success on the pitch, Clongowes Wood and Terenure have enjoyed the most profitable couple of seasons.
In 1997 Terenure prevailed in the final while last year, inspired by Gordon D'Arcy and Des Dillon, Clongowes atoned for their defeat 12 months earlier. There was scarcely a furrowed brow when the two schools were drawn to face down one another again, this time in the first round. The Leinster Branch could not have wished for a better appetiser to the competition.
Tomorrow Clongowes and Terenure will fill Donnybrook, attempting to settle their long running dispute on the pitch. The holders' pre-cup record appears an exercise in smoke and mirrors hiding the substance and quality that the team evidently possesses. Henry Bourke, a centre on last season's side, will probably lead the team from hooker.
Vincent Murray will have Clongowes superbly prepared and focused for the task in hand. Terenure will be no less determined but may lack the strength in depth to confound the bookmakers. The winners will receive a one-match respite, without being unkind to their second-round opponents, before facing another rip-roaring clash, with either Blackrock or St Michael's. The former, under new coach Alan McGinty, are favoured to edge past their fellow Holy Ghost school.
The draw is definitely bottom heavy but that should not stop St Mary's forging a semi-final meeting with either Clongowes (marginal favourites) or Blackrock. In the top half, Newbridge and Roscrea should make it to Lansdowne Road with the Kildare school reaching the final. There they will meet St Mary's: the latter will ultimately triumph.
Given that the outline is committed to print, there is no way that events will unfold as described. I await the chastisement.
