‘As far back as I can remember, this is what I wanted — to win a senior cup with Pres’

For as long as he walked the corridors of Presentation Brothers Cork, he vowed never again to be peripheral to the school’s rugby ambitions.

ANOTHER YEAR ON TOP: PBC Captain Rory O'Shaughnessy and his team lift the trophy after their victory over CBC in their Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup final at Musgrave Park. Pic: Dan Linehan

James Wixted occupied a seat on the Pres bench throughout their run to last year’s Munster Schools Cup final. But two days before that decider, he was told he hadn’t made the matchday squad for the final.

His involvement on the afternoon of their heavy defeat to Crescent was reduced to little more than spectator status. He was, to use his own words, heartbroken.