Lads of Kildare expected to enhance growing reputation

Leinster schools' Junior Cup: AN ADAGE stands firm here: when it rains, it pours. Clongowes Wood College patiently waited 56 years for a fifth Junior Cup before last season's crop delivered in style. Conor Gilsenan's team beat St Michael's 36-0 in a final performance that showed a glimpse of the imprint they intend to leave over the coming years.

Their presence may not be felt at senior level in 2009, but by all accounts another exceptional group are coming through the under-15 grade. Captained by last year’s hooker, John Wallace, accompanied by, among others, scrumhalf Conor McQuaid, they are runaway favourites with Paddy Power bookmakers who have priced them at 8 to 11, with second favourites Blackrock on 3 to 1.

Betting on kids may seem a little strange but it is a popular reality.

Other traditional competitors, Belvedere and St Mary’s, are 7 to 1, while Terenure come in at 9 to 1.

Considering Belvedere and Terenure meet in the opening round on February 3rd, with the winner to face Blackrock in the semi-final on March 8th, the Jesuit rugby nursery appears to have the more favourable route to the Donnybrook finale on March 22nd.

Maybe the impact of Gordon D’Arcy in the Leinster ranks and, in more recent times, the Kearney brothers – Robert and David – and Fergus McFadden has inspired the new generation of Clongowes players not to wait until sixth year to make a statement of intent.

They will hardly be impressed with this talk down in Clongowes, but such runaway favouritism cannot be ignored. Still, a quarter-final meeting with CBC Monkstown or St Michael’s and a possible semi-final against St Mary’s (although Castleknock, CUS and Gonzaga, in particular, will have their opportunity), should test the true strength of Noel Murray’s charges.

Keeping young teenagers composed is probably the main challenge, but in Murray, the Leinster under-19s coach, they have as good a guide as can be hoped.

Blackrock, seeking a remarkable seventh junior title this decade, are shaping up as the main rivals, and they stayed the pace in the pre-cup meeting on their home grounds before ultimately going down.

In the overall scheme of Junior Cup success, Blackrock have 45 wins, trailed by Belvedere on 17 with Castleknock and Terenure on eight and Clongowes seeking to draw level with St Mary’s on six.

So, all things considered, it looks like back-to-back titles for Clongowes and their confirmation as one of the giants of Leinster schools rugby at all grades.

Junior Cup

February 2nd: Presentation College, Bray v Kilkenny College/St Patrick's, Navan, Athy, Ashbourne; Cistercian College, Roscrea (Q3) v Newbridge College, Tullow, Coolmine; Blackrock College v St Conleth's/St Andrew's, Stradbrook; Clongowes Wood v Wesley College/High School, North Kildare, Naas; St Mary's College v Castleknock College; CUS v Gonzaga College, Ballycorus.

February 3rd: Terenure College v Belvedere College, Donnybrook.

February 4th: CBC Monkstown v St Michael's, Donnybrook.