Douglas and Criost Rí in battle for prestige

WITH both schools safely through to the knock-out stages after Christmas, tomorrow’s Irish Examiner Corn Uí Mhuirí clash between Douglas CS and Coláiste Chriost Rí at Bishopstown (1.30 pm) is purely to determine who tops the group.

There’s a certain amount of prestige attached to the game also as Douglas endeavour to climb out of the shadow of their more illustrious opponents.

Both schools beat St Fachtnas in earlier rounds, Douglas by six points as to five for Criost Rí and in many people’s eyes that might make the former favourites. However, when it comes to tradition and experience, the Capwell school have both in abundance.

There’s a lot of talent on both teams, which should make for an interesting hour’s football. Douglas will include Eoin Cadogan, Stephen Moylan, Patrick Carroll, Mark O’Callaghan and Killian Murphy and they will push Criost Rí all the way.

Roy Leahy, Ray Keating, Ger Newman, Paul Kerrigan and Colin Lyons will spearhead the Capwell challenge which should be just about good enough.

Meanwhile, champions St Colman’s will field five of last year’s winning team for Thursday’s Dean Ryan Cup final clash with arch rivals St Flannan’s at Claughaun (1.30 pm).

Colman’s have dominated this competition in recent years, winning three of the last four finals, and on the evidence of their progression to this year’s decider will be difficult to dethrone.

The have excellent players in Adrian Mannix, Padraig Lynch, James Sexton, Ken Dineen and Ken Kearney and won’t surrender their title easily.

Flannan’s are reported to have one of the best teams to represent the college in this grade in years and their 15-point victory over Coláiste Chríost Rí in the semi-final was as emphatic as the 0-23 to 0-8 scoreline suggests.

Full forward Gerard Arthur, one of three seniors on the team, helped himself to 12 of those points, nine of them from play, marking him out as a player Colman’s must put the shackles on.

Flannan’s are a physically strong team which is always a bonus at this level in present conditions. Apart from Arthur, they have also excellent players in Damien O’Halloran, Ian Colleran and Neil Killeen .

They have lost a number of finals to Colman’s in recent years at both senior and junior levels, and will be desperately keen to stop the rot.