St Mary's can look forward to another good cup run

LEINSTER SCHOOLS CUPS DRAWS:THERE CAN be no suggestion of any impropriety but it's fair to say that Leinster outhalf Jonno Sexton will be even more highly regarded in his old alma mater, St Mary's College, following last night's draw for the Powerade- sponsored Leinster Schools Senior and Junior Cups at Templeville Road.

Sexton, along with his Leinster team-mates Cian Healy and Bernard Jackman, performed the honours and the good news for St Mary's is they are surrounded by three qualifiers in the bottom half of the draw. Those unnamed schools will become clear when the semi-finalists in the Vinnie Murray Cup are known.

The Rathmines school were beaten finalists last season but given the draw, can expect to make the semi-finals, where they are likely to face their neighbours, arch rivals and this year's favourites, Terenure College. Sexton knows exactly what's required to win the Senior Cup, having done so in 2002.

Sexton smiled: "I suppose if I was to retain one image of playing in those cups it would be the friendships made that will last a life time. In 2002, I came off the bench in the final with about 15 minutes to go and managed a drop goal. We beat Belvedere 10-6. It was lashing rain, miserable conditions, and I suppose I was just relieved to have won rather than savouring the experience at the time.

"We reached the final again in 2003 but lost 3-0 to Terenure, a Gary Byrne penalty. We had beaten Blackrock after a replay in the semi-final and people would have made us favourites.

"It's funny, though, that the strongest memory I have of schools rugby was my final year. I captained the team and we lost to Blackrock in the first round, a match in which we led 17-3 at one point.

"That was absolutely crushing and there was no consolation that they went on to win the cup. It was my last game of schools rugby and for a game and a time I enjoyed so much, it is probably the most painful memory."

Defending Senior Cup champions Belvedere College didn't manage to receive the same favours from one of their old boys, Healy, as they are pitted against a well drilled St Gerard's team - they are currently in the league semi-final - in the first round.

Healy is another well versed in the demands of reaching a final. "We lost two semi-finals either side of winning the 2005 final.

"If you take it over the three years they were unbelievable experiences for different reasons. I remember the Garda escort to the final, training as if we were professional players, which some went on to become.

"You were aware of the pressure but there was a great sense of pride in playing for your friends, your school, much more than any individual feelings. In 2004 I came off the bench and there wasn't the same involvement. Winning (they beat Blackrock) was obviously the realisation of a dream and then in my last year we lost in the semis to a very good Blackrock side."

The symmetry between the two schools could once again surface this year with Blackrock lurking in the top half of the draw. Borrowing from the acknowledged wisdom of others, it appears Belvedere and Blackrock would be favoured to meet in one semi-final with rivals Terenure and St Mary's squaring up at the penultimate stage of the tournament.

Gonzaga and Clongowes appear best placed to dispute those assertions.

VINNIE MURRAY CUP DRAW

First Round(2.30) - A: Templeogue v St Paul's; B: Newpark v Wesley; C: Mount Temple v De La Salle; D: St Columba's v CUS; E: Roscrea v High School; F: St Andrew's v Pres Bray.

Quarter-finals(2.30) - G: Skerries CC v Winner of A; H: Winner of B v Winner of C; I:Winner of D v Winner of E; J:Winner of F v Kilkenny.

Semi-finals- K: Winner of G (Qualifier 1) v Winner of H (Qualifier 2); L: Winner of I (Qualifier 3) v Winner of J (Qualifier 4).

Final- Winner of K v Winner of L.