CBC have every incentive to win historic match chasing Junior Cup history

Christian Brothers College, Cork, wouldn’t lack for incentives ahead of today’s Clayton Hotels Munster Schools Junior Cup final with Crescent Comprehensive, Limerick. (Musgrave Park, 2.30pm).

With eyes on a 17th crown for the school, the youngsters will be seeking to secure a rare senior/junior double and become the first Christians side to win back-to-back titles at this level

Standing in their way is a Crescent outfit who defeated them in the opening round of the competition. Christians coach Tom Crowe admitted his side have grown hugely since that defeat.

“We went on to beat a good St Munchin’s side, we rode our luck a little bit but got by. We had a good test against Glenstal in the semi-final and they play a little like Crescent, a wide expansive game, so we know what’s coming.”

Crescent coach Ger Slattery has overseen a perfect march to the decider.

“We were very pleased with that semi-final win but I think it was a day that everything went right for us. Our error count was very low but we’re well aware it is going to be very different in the situation of a Cup final. I imagine it will be a very different Christians from the side we faced in the first round.”

Crescent agonisingly lost Sunday’s final by a point but Slattery insists the pain of that defeat wouldn’t be part of his pre-match speech.

“We’re trying hard to impress on the lads that winning here has nothing to do with making up for not winning the senior title. It’s a different game, different age group, and we’re working on the basis that this is all about them, it’s their big day.”

CBC:

T Downes; M Soames, C Coughlan, F Conway, K Waterman; B Cain, J O’Riordan; C Rasmussen, D Good, M Donnelly; A Brien, D McAuliffe; S Buckley (captain), C Walsh, C O’Sullivan. Replacements: A Coleman, N Hasson, H Fitzgerald, C Barry, D O’Hara, H O’Riordan, W Fielding, Donagh Rice.

CRESCENT COLLEGE:

D Larkin; B Carew, J Hoffman, J Delaney, T Duggan; J Hurley (captain), D Ahearne; C Fitzgerald, R Reynolds, R Gallery; C O’Malley, C McDonagh; O Evans, A Garland, J Madden. Replacements: C Dineen, J Hanley, E Feeney, B Murphy, T Allen, M Casserly, M McCrann, C Tuohy.

Referee:

S Kierans (M.A.R)