Munster chief Fitzgerald presents new schools cup trophy

GARRETT FITZGERALD, chief executive of Munster Rugby, has presented a new trophy for the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Senior Cup.

The original was first contested in 1909 and won by CBC. But the years have taken their toll and Fitzgerald felt the time had come to provide a replacement. Fitzgerald himself was a member of the Christians team that captured the title in 1971 under the captaincy of Pat Aherne.

“I just wanted to put something back into the schools game,” he explained. “The schools cups are great competitions and have done untold good for the game in Munster and helped to produce some of our finest players.”

CBC are the current holders of the senior cup and lead the roll of honour with 28 wins, followed by their great Cork rivals PBC with 27 and Rockwell, 23. Pres are widely favoured to regain the title. As in recent years, the last eight schools in the senior and junior cups will be guaranteed two matches. The winners of round one will secure “home” advantage in round two against the losers in round one.

Kieran O’Brien, of sponsors Glanbia, said: “It is great to see so many former schools players of recent years now representing Munster, including Keith Earls (St Munchin’s), Tomás O’Leary (CBC), Paul O’Connell (Ard Scoil Ris), Ronan O’Gara (PBC), Denis Leamy (Rockwell) and David Wallace (Crescent Comprehensive), to name but a few.”

The big matches in the first round of the Senior Cup should be the meetings of Rockwell and St Munchin’s and Crescent and CBC. PBC are favoured to overcome Ard Scoil Ris and would then come up against Crescent or Christians. The other half of the draw favours a St Munchin’s-Castletroy semi-final.