In a week when the ethos of Munster Rugby has been thrust under the spotlight, perhaps it is fitting the man who was the embodiment of such ideals and beliefs will be honoured forever in Limerick.

The death of Michael Hayes, president of Mary Immaculate College (MIC) in Limerick, occurred at the weekend.

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Bandon Grammar School 17, St Munchin’s College 13: Bandon Grammar School created their own special piece of history on a wet and windy afternoon at Bandon RFC yesterday when they advanced to the Clayton Hotels Munster Senior Schools Cup semi-final for the first time.

When it seemed referee Jerome Garces had formally concluded the week-long obsequies for Anthony Foley with a shrill final whistle on Saturday, Axel’s comrades took to Thomond’s famed turf for one last farewell to one of the greats of Munster and Irish rugby.

“Tell them nothing” – the shout from Anthony Foley at the weekly Munster press conference whenever he passed by a player being interviewed. The ‘jibe’ was always always followed by childish chuckle and the squinting of his devilment-filled eyes.

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Munster Schools Senior Cup

Munster Senior Cup: Ardscoil Rís 21 St Munchin’s College 13

Limerick’s own Neil Cusack saw a lot in America, like hillbillies with shotguns chasing athletes, but for a moment he owned America too. This weekend 40 years ago he won the oldest and most celebrated city marathon in the world, a moment that brought a welcome sense of joy and colour and even the exotic to Ireland 1974

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Donncha O’Callaghan admitted yesterday the most pressurised time of his rugby life came in the build-up to the 1997 Munster Schools Cup final.

The argument for

A dozen years have passed since a teenage Donnacha Ryan first pulled on a green jersey but it was the reception on his return to St Munchin’s College that has left a bigger impression.

It is an issue that is currently dividing rugby folk across Munster and threatens to surface across Ireland but there are plenty of solutions to the issue of Munster Senior Schools Cup contenders recruiting players at the expense of rival schools, clubs and inter-provincial youth teams.

More than 100 second-level students have ended their summer holidays on a high by reaching the top of one of the world’s most famous mountain peaks.

The week started on a very encouraging note with news of Red Mills’ sponsorship of the Irish Laurels at Curraheen Park for a three year period. It is a great boost for the sport in the south and will allow all involved to plan well into the future.

The big breakthrough of 1968 is still spoken about with affection by students and staff of St Munchin’s College, who had to watch for years as schools around them racked up Munster Schools Senior Cup titles at their expense.

Wishing for better times may have become a national past time but one schoolboy has turned the dreary national attitude to his advantage — catching the eye of a world-leading firm in the process.

The prize-winning art of a Co Clare teenager will be seen by millions of internet users this week when it appears on the Google Ireland homepage.

St Munchin’s College celebrated a thoroughly deserved Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup semi-final victory over Presentation Brothers College Cork with gusto at Temple Hill yesterday to clinch a place in the March 19 decider against Rockwell College.

Presentation Brothers College, Cork may have home advantage in today’s Avonmore Munster Schools’ Senior Cup semi-final against St Munchin’s College at Temple Hill (3pm), but they have learned enough over two previous traumatic encounters with Glenstal Abbey to make them feel it could be another hard day at the office.

Christian Brothers College Cork had little difficulty in overcoming St Munchin’s College in yesterday’s Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup quarter-final at Musgrave Park.

THE silver trophy is in the shape of rugby ball, but, contrary to the instincts of a scrum-half, this was one oval sphere Conor Murray was not keen to let go of.

TEACHERS and students in St Munchin’s College, Limerick, have rallied around sick children and adults to raise funds for three charitable causes.

LEINSTER’S U18 schools side left Cork with a victory over Munster to their names last night, just as their predecessors did 111 years ago.

MUNSTER A coach Anthony Foley expects the sternest test of the season in tomorrow’s clash with Leinster A at Donnybrook (2.30pm).

DENIS HURLEY jokingly claims to have a Cork accent. True, he was born in Ballineen, West Cork, but the family emigrated to the US when he was little more than 12 months old and when they returned to this country four years later, his father’s work took the family to Co Meath and a new home in Kells.

SCHOOLS rugby is abundant with examples of father and son representation, but former Munster second-row Ray Ryan must be on the cusp of creating something of a record.

IT’S a scene replicated everywhere in Ireland, new clubs coming to the fore in county finals.

KEITH EARLS reckons the British & Irish Lions ‘Red Army’ is going to rival the impact the world renowned Munster fans have when they arrive in force for Saturday’s first Test in Durban.

PRESENTATION Brothers College go in search of their 27th Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup at Thomond Park today (3pm) when they take on St Munchin’s College in the 76th final.

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MUNSTER fans in the Stade de Sapiac this afternoon and those watching on television will need to take a second look when the Munster guy with the number one on his back trots out this afternoon for the Heineken Cup clash with Montauban.

TIGHT haircuts have landed a number of students in a disciplinary tangle at Limerick’s all-boys diocesan secondary school.

HUNDREDS of teenagers yesterday paid a final poignant tribute to a school friend and teammate murdered near his home in Limerick last Saturday night.