Leinster schools hold pole position

THE Irish Schools Interprovincial title is on the line at Temple Hill this afternoon (1pm) when Munster take on Leinster.

And, after two disappointing games to date, schools fans will be hoping for much better.

Leinster are in pole position after beating Ulster - but only just. They won the opening fixture at Donnybrook by a three point margin - 3-0 in fact - and it was a very disappointing game.

Subsequently, Munster travelled to Belfast and came away with a 0-0 draw.

So, whatever about the intensity of the competition between the three sides, there hasn’t yet been a try scored between the teams.

That could be put down to either a good defensive strategy in all three provinces or, more likely, a lack of decent strike runners in the difficult underfoot conditions the teams had to endure recently.

Both sides will be hoping for dry conditions today and also hoping that they are a lot better than they have looked in their previous matches.

Meanwhile, the AIB League continues today and the division one match of the day would appear to be between Blackrock College and Ballymena. Both are in a position to move to the top of the table.

In division two, league leaders Old Crescent are away to DLSP but should pick up the points needed to keep them ahead of the posse.

To keep the heat on, Dolphin need to beat local rivals Sunday’s Well at Musgrave Park in what is officially an “away” fixture.

Bective Rangers, another of the top contenders, travel to Limerick to take on Thomond at Fitzgerald Park.

Division three leaders Corinthians look set to take the points against Suttonians at Corinthian Park but both Waterpark and Instonians are waiting for the one slip-up.

Waterpark take on Ballina at Ballinakill and Instonians are also at home to Naas.

MUNSTER: E. Ryan (PBC Cork), F. Dennehy (PBC Cork), C. McNaughton (Rockwell), T. Gleeson (PBC Cork), D. O'Leary (PBC Cork), B. O'shea (Crescent), D. Williams (CBC Cork), J. Hogan (Crescent), C. Parkes (St. Munchins), D. Hurley (CBC Cork), R. Noonan (CBC Cork), B. Holland (CBC Cork), M. Essex (CBC Cork), R. Geoghegan (PBC Cork), J. Harte (CBC Cork). Replacements. C. Mitchell (CBC Cork), B. Hughes (Ard Schol Ris), E. Ronan (CBC Cork), D. Keogh (St. Munchins), R. Brockert (Ard Scoil Ris), N. Melbourne (Rockwell), J. Kerins (CBC Cork)

LEINSTER: R. Smyth (High School), D. Blaney (Blackrock), G. Byron (St. Michaels), D. Sharkey (Clongowes), V. Gough (Castleknock), J. Sexton (St. Mary's), B. O'Neill (Old Belvedere), a. O'sullivan (Presentation Bray), J. Coady (Blackrock), P. Walsh (Clongowes), A. dunlop (Terenure), K. O'Malley-Farrell (Terenure), P. Nash (St. Mary's) captain; K. O'Loughlin (Gonzaga), G. Murphy (Clongowes). Replacements. D. Brophy (Terenure), S. Canavan (St. Gerards), E. Fitzgerald (Belvedere), K. Molloy (Terenure), A. Kelly(St. Michaels), N. Best (St. Michaels), C. Murphy (Belvedere).