Flannan’s and Colman’s battle for favourite’s tag

ONLY one round of the Dr Harty Cup may be completed but it is already obvious that St Flannan’s and St Colman’s are firm favourites for the Munster Colleges senior hurling title.

The great rivals should have matters all their own way again tomorrow as Flannans face Doon CBS in Newport, while Colmans entertain Criost Rí in Caherlag.

The Limerick college have lost many of the side which troubled Flannans for long periods of last year’s semi-final and were beaten by Kilmallock in their opener a fortnight ago.

Their challenge will be led by Tommy O’Donoghue and 16-year-old Michael Ryan who hit a combined tally of 1-11 last time out.

However, expect the Clare backline to be in a mean mood while in attack, Bernard Gaffney, Gerry Arthur and Conor Tierney will pose problems.

Colmans have a couple of superb forwards in Adrian Mannix, Mark O’Connor and Kevin Dineen.

The Capwell school could be in for another torrid time despite the best efforts of Craig Neville, Brian Corry, Roy Leahy and Dave O’Connell.

Our Lady’s should edge Douglas Community School at Mitchelstown. The Tipp school had to come from five points down to win by three in their outing against Shannon.

Douglas, despite the best efforts of Stephen Moylan, Patrick Carroll and Fintan O’Leary were beaten last time out and Our Ladys, led by Jody Ryan, Shane Bourke and Eanna Jones should grab a second win.

Colaiste Iosaef (Kilmallock) will be in confident mood facing DLS Waterford in Golden.

They have excellent players in centre back Gavin O’Mahony, Timmy Byrne and Shane O’Donnell. Farranferris, one of four schools to have won the Harty Cup in four consecutive years, (1971-74) face Shannon Schools in New Inn tomorrow with the Clare boys likely to collect the points.

North Mon are another famous Harty school to have fallen on lean times and that trend looks like continuing against last year’s beaten finalists Waterford Colleges in Castlemartyr.

Thurles CBS should pick up another two league points when they take on Spioraid Naoimh in Kilworth.

The final game, between Cashel CS and Midleton CNS has been put back to Thursday due to a bereavement in the Tipp school. All games have a 2pm throw-in.