Paulie's school of thought: alma mater on the brink of success

Paul O’Connell has big things on his mind this weekend with a possible Six Nations championship win for Ireland on the line in Paris this evening. But life will continue for the big man regardless of the result and on Monday he will turn his attentions to a even rarer possibility.

In Thomond Park, Paul’s alma mater Ardscoil Rís take on Crescent Comprehensive College in the Munster Senior Cup final. If Ardscoil win, it won’t just be their first title, a milestone in itself, it will also complete one of the rarest doubles in Munster sport: the Harty Cup (senior hurling) and Senior Cup (rugby). It was last achieved back in 1930 by Rockwell College.

Recognised as one of the all-time great second-rows, the irony is that when Paul first attended Ardscoil it had nothing whatever to do with the oval ball, or any other ball for that matter.