THE routes by which Clohgowes Wood College and Terenure College reached the semi-finals of the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup were not marked by the kind of impressive displays that suggested greater glory lay ahead. Both went into their respective ties as out-siders, both defied that rating.

So this afternoon at Lansdowne Road (3.30) they will meet in the final, a competition sponsored by Coca Cola. And such was the merit of their wins at the penultimate stage - Terenure over Belvedere and Clongowes over defending champions Blackrock - that the decider promises to be a final in the very best traditions of this superb competition.

Terenure caused the first upset at the semi-final stage when they beat the highly rated Belvedere and in doing so revealed great aptitude to play to their strengths and to counter their opponents. I saw no better match at any level this season than the meeting of Clongowes and Blackrock in the second semi-final.

This was Clongowes at their resilient best. They capitalised on opportunity and then offered a magnificent defence when Blackrock came back at them.

That win over the holders had impressive elements to it and has installed Clongowes as marginal favourites this afternoon. That is a circumstance unlikely to worry Terenure who will be content to take the field not in any way burdened by the weight of undue expectation.

It will be the third meeting of the colleges in the final with the score standing at one win each. Terenure won 8-3 in 1993 and Clongowes won 9-6 in 1978, a game Terenure were warm favourites to win.

This will be Clongowes' seventh appearance in the final in the last 10 years, a ready testament to their competitive spirit. They have won it twice in that period in 1988 and 1991 and lost in a replay in 1994.

They will need all their fighting qualities today to counter a Terenure team that showed a commendable depth of character and tactical appreciation in defeating Belvedere.

The Terenure back row of Daniel Parkinson, Tom Carter and Jamie Jenkinson played a very significant role in the win over Belvedere. They will need to repeat that level of performance this afternoon against a good rucking and mauling Clongowes pack also well served in the back row area by Ian Sheehy, the captain Greg Lynch and Richard Kearney.

Clongowes, too, have very good line-out ball winners in the second row pair of Des Dillon and Peter Callanan. They could give their side a very important edge in that department, but Cormac Long and Dermot Quinn will not be easily subdued.

The forward battle should be intriguing and if Clongowes gain superiority then they have the flair behind the scrum to turn it to account. Their full back Gordon D'Arcy is a very perceptive attacking player. He sustained an injure in the semi-final and has been under treatment since for a leg injury. The hope is that he will play and his presence is important to Clongowes.

The Terenure half backs, Barry Healy and John English, played with great perception against Belvedere. They are faced by Bobby Quigley and Ciaran Finane, who served the cause so well against Blackrock.

If is unlikely that there will be much in it at the end. Win it who will, the game holds out the promise of being another final to remember for all the right reasons. Terenure, of course, are going for the cup double as their junior team will be contesting the final on Wednesday against St Mary's College.