With the likes of Simon Zebo, Andrew Conway and JJ Hanrahan to compete with, it hasn’t been easy for Stephen Fitzgerald to get a run in a Munster number 15 shirt.

There was a high level of excellence and scoring power on show at Lansdowne yesterday, but Christian Brothers College, Cork also had to work hard to see off the challenge of Ardscoil Rís in the opening round of the Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Senior Cup.

Ardscoil Rís Limerick 4-11

Nenagh CBS 1-13 Ard Scoil Rís 0-5: Nenagh CBS served notice of their aspirations for Harty Cup success in the near future as they captured the Munster Post Primary Schools U15 ‘A’ Hurling title with an impressive victory over Ard Scoil Rís in Newport yesterday.

St Francis College, Rochestown 4-11Ard Scoil Rís 1-17: Dr Harty Cup semi-final: Not since Midleton CBS’s win of 2006 has a Cork school inscribed its name on the Dr Harty Cup, but the possibility of that run ending remains a live possibility after this Charleville cracker.

MIKE SHERRY reels off all the names he must leapfrog to achieve his ultimate ambition of becoming Ireland’s first choice hooker.

HAVING bridged a 19 year gap last season, Crescent College are favourites to make it two-in-a-row when they meet Limerick neighbours Ard Scoil Rís in this afternoon’s (3pm) Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup final at Tom Clifford Park.

HOLDERS Crescent College Comprehensive start strong favourites to reach another Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup final when they take on Glenstal Abbey at Clanwilliam Park, Tipperary this afternoon (3pm).

JOINT tournament favourites Ard Scoil Rís and Crescent Comprehensive are in action this afternoon as the Avonmore Munster Schools Junior Cup quarter-finals get underway.

IF those who set the odds are to be believed – and these guys speak with their wallets – there’s going to be a convincing winner of tomorrow’s Harty Cup final between Árd Scoil Rís (Limerick) and Charleville CBS.

SHANE QUINN (De La Salle, Waterford) was an impressive winner of the senior boys’ title at the AVIVA Munster Schools cross-country championships at the CIT Campus, Bishopstown, yesterday.

IT’S been a great sporting week for Ard Scoil Rís.

DEFENDING champions Árd Scoil Rís get a stab at retaining their Dr Harty Cup title after prevailing against St Flannan’s in a thrilling semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds yesterday.

IT wasn’t always easy, but Crescent Comprehensive were worthy winners of yesterday’s Avonmore Munster Schools Senior Cup clash with Limerick city rivals Ard Scoil Rís at Dooradoyle.

A BAD-tempered start to this Harty Cup quarter-final in Tipperary Town yesterday, two players – John Fitzgibbon (Árd Scoil) and Seamus Kennedy (Thurles) — booked before even before throw-in.

ROCKWELL’S demolition of St Munchin’s in the last round of the Avonmore Munster Schools Senior Cup will be of serious concern to Ard Scoil Rís when the sides meet in a quarter-final clash at Clanwilliam this afternoon (3pm)

GLENSTAL ABBEY bid to build on the promise of their maiden Limerick City Cup win when they meet Crescent College Comprehensive in the Avonmore Milk Munster Senior Schools Cup quarter-final at Clanwilliam today.

Árd Scoil Rís 0-10 St Flannan’s 0-9

Glenstal Abbey 10 Rockwell College 3

JAMES O’BRIEN scored the vital goal with less than three minutes remaining to give Ard Scoil Rís victory in an enthralling Dr Harty Cup (Munster Colleges SHC) tie at Tipperary Town yesterday.

THE palpable sense of disappointment in the aftermath of Ireland U19’s 15-10 bonus point defeat to Australia, demonstrated a deep-rooted realisation that a top four finish — and a place in the World Championship semi-finals — is well within this side’s grasp.

TCH All-Ireland School’s Quiz number 187 saw a very close win for Ard Scoil Phobal Beanntrai who won with a score of 96.

COACH Eric Elwood has named an unchanged Ireland U20 team for tomorrow’s Grand Slam decider against Italy.

PAUL O’CONNELL has discovered every conceivable way of getting into Thomond Park since he first played there with Ard Scoil Rís.

The Ireland Schools Rugby international season began today with the announcement of the teams and replacements for the annual Irish Schools trial match between the Probables and Possibles selections.

Crescent College 11 Árd Scoil Rís 10

THERE was a nail-biting finish to the TCH All Ireland Schools Quiz held in Bantry last night.

Ard Scoil RÍs 8 CBC 7

There is an escalating problem with secondary school admission, which has been highlighted in Limerick schools, writes Education Correspondent Niall Murray.

LAST year’s Munster Junior Cup champions, Ard Scoil Rís of Limerick are setting their sights on the Munster Schools Senior Cup.

Rockwell 3 Árd Scoil Rís 8

Árd Scoil Rís 9 Crescent Comp 0