Written by Denis Hayes
Senior Cup
Munster Schools Senior Cup: Round 1, Glenstal Abbey School vs Saint Clements College Date: 17/1/17, Venue: UL 4G pitches, Time: 2:30pm
Glenstal look to have a serious side this year and while they won’t be taking a good St. Clements side lightly they themselves will surely back themselves to express the quality that 9 Munster representatives and 3 Ireland school representatives should bring to a rugby field.
Clement’s have their own strengths with 5 Munster men and 20 of their squad featuring in 2016. Physiologically, for them, the idea of having nothing to lose could well play it’s part in bringing out the free-flowing style that they promise to produce. Likewise to Connacht in last season’s Pro12, that could well be the way for Clements to go about their business.
Overall however, it is difficult to see them over coming the challenge they face despite the considerable experience in their squad.
Prediction: Glenstal by 20+
Players to watch: Luke Fitzgerald (Glenstal) Shane Brosnahan (St.Clements)
Junior Cup
Munster Schools Senior Cup: Round 1 Glenstal Abbey School vs Saint Clements College Date: 17/1/17, Venue: UL 4G pitches, Time: 13:00
Inconsistency has been a problem for Glenstal this season. They’ve enjoyed memorable victories against the likes of Munchins, Ardscoil and Castletroy but have since fallen to new lows. Regardless of which side shows up, they should however have enough in their lockers to overcome Clements who have qualified for the first round of the Junior Cup for a second successive season.
Clements will have a strong set up as they have up to 15 players who were involved in last years Junior Cup in comparison to Glenstal’s 9.
The latter will hope to reach the highs of last year by reaching a Junior Cup Semi-Final, while Clements look to simply go one further than their narrow loss in the second round to Ardscoil
Prediction: Glenstal by 10
Players to watch: Ruairí Woodcock (Glenstal) Scott Duggan (St.Clements)
Munster Haka 