SEEKING THEIR first back-to-back senior cup success in over half a century, Rockwell College are keener than ever to lift the trophy this year. According to their team manager, Tony Smith, fielding a full-strength 15 is a priority. “Our first-choice selection is effective and the early-season games we failed to win were lost by a narrow margin. We have the potential to achieve our aim but we are a relatively small school which restricts our selection.”

’Rock will again be a force and will be fancied to get off to a winning start against Glenstal, who are coached by former Munster, Gloucester and Bourgoin scrum-half Mike Prendergast.

The trophy has gone to Cork 57 times since the inauguration of the competition in 1909 and early season-form indicates the silverware could return to Cork. Brian Hickey, Peter Melia and Neil Lucey provide a wealth of coaching experience at CBC. PBC have lost to CBC and Clongowes already but with players of the calibre of Paul Derham, Steve Dinan, Ross McCarthy, Max Abott, Séamus Glynn and Rory Scannell, they may well triumph again.

Christians await the winners of Midleton and Ard Scoil Rís (January 18th) in round two while PBC host Crescent Comprehensive. Six of the Crescent return and with Len Dinneen, Conan Doyle and Niall O’Shea heading up the coaching set-up, they could advance to the latter stages with outstanding players in Greg O’Shea, Jack Dinneen, Gearóid Lyons and Diarmuid Dee.

St Munchin’s College’s second-round clash with Castletroy College could be the game of the round. Coached by Andrew Burke, Ger Burke and John Broderick, St Munchin’s are a big side with a backline that can run the ball well. They have impressive players in Cormac O’Donnell, Lee Nicholas, Ben Kilkenny (nephew of Keith Wood) and Dan Goggin.

Castletroy will have to balance Harty Cup hurling commitments with their rugby ambitions as they try to lift their second senior trophy in five seasons.