All-Limerick clash should be lively Harty opener
This will be the first ever meeting between the schools at this level and has raised considerable interest, not least because both clubs, Doon and Kilmallock, have dominated the Limerick minor championship in recent years and will meet in the final next month.
Doon have made a huge impression over the last few years in the Harty Cup and reached the semi-final twice, including last year.
However, they have lost the bulk of that team and can only call on four survivors for tomorrow's opener James Butler, Paul Fitzgerald, Michael O'Neill and Mark Fenton.
This is Kilmallock's second year competing and, backboned by the local club's minor team, will fancy their chances. Gavin O'Mahony, Liam Hurley and Liam Barrett are three of their more prominent players.
Holders St Flannan's are again the team to beat, with all last year's players available.
They take on DLS Waterford in New Inn tomorrow, but without James McInerney, who is injured. Gary Arthur, Bernard Gaffney, John Moloney, Colm Ryan and Damien O'Halloran will spearhead the Ennis challenge.
The Waterford side pushed Flannan's all the way last year, but have lost the bulk of that team.
James Quirke is also out injured, but David Ellis, John Kearney, Tomas Connors, Shane Walsh and Craig Moloney will put up stiff resistance.
The all-Cork clash of North Mon and Midleton CBS at Carrigtwohill should be worth a visit. The Mon are without a Harty title since 1994 when a team including Seán Óg Ó hAilpín took provincial and All-Ireland honours.
Defeat in this year's O'Callaghan Cup (Cork colleges) suggests they have some way to go.
Midleton cruised to the semi-finals of the Cork championship and should carry too much power for the Mon.
The East Cork school have excellent forwards in Sean Hennessy and James Walsh, while Cian Fogarty, Paudie Wall and Evan O'Keeffe won't let the side down.
Criost Rí, who are in the last four of the O'Callaghan Cup, won't have any fears of meeting Thurles CBS tomorrow in Fermoy.
This is is one of the best senior hurling teams the college has produced for years. But it remains to be seen if it's good enough at Munster level.
St Colman's, always a threat, face a tricky opener against Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh in Watergrasshill.
Twelve months ago a star-studded CSN side fell to a depleted St Colman's at the same venue in the knockout stages and hopefully will have learned from that experience.
CSN have lost a number of last year's team but can still call on Denis Crowley, Brian Nunan, Timmy Creed and county minor goalkeeper Ken O'Halloran. Colman's, backed by Paul Hoye, Jamie Kearney, James Sexton and Padraig Cotter, won't have it all their own way.
Douglas Community School will find it difficult against St Joseph's, Borrisoleigh in Mitchelstown.
A heavy defeat by Midleton CBS in the O'Callaghan Cup last week did nothing for confidence, and despite the efforts of Alan Barry, Stephen Moylan and county minor Fintan O'Leary, they will find it difficult to match the skill of the Tipperary side.
Last year's final defeat by St Flannan's left Waterford Colleges shattered, because they failed on the day to play to their potential.
They set out tomorrow to make amends but face Cashel CS in Clonmel, and wouldn't want to take anything for granted.
Shannon Schools, competing for only the second time, have a tough opener in Our Lady's, Templemore.
The North Tipp side have always done well in the Harty, regularly reaching the knockout stages, and should get this year's campaign off to a winning start at Nenagh tomorrow.
All games have a 2pm throw-in.
