CBC hope Jason Holland’s influence will help in finally overcoming treble-chasing Pres

When the Munster legend and current All Blacks assistant coach was back in Ireland for the Autumn Internationals, he came down to CBC’s Lansdowne grounds, where he once coached years before, to lead a session for the Senior Cup team.

Thu, 20 Mar, 2025 - 07:10

Stephen Barry

Early on Tuesday morning, CBC head coach Dave Lee’s phone buzzed with a text message from New Zealand.

The sender was Munster legend and current All Blacks assistant coach Jason Holland issuing his well wishes for the Christians-Pres Pinergy Munster Schools Senior Cup showdown, which will be exclusively live-streamed by the Irish Examiner.

When ‘Dutchy’ was back in Ireland for the Autumn Internationals, he came down to CBC’s Lansdowne grounds, where he once coached years before, to lead a session for the Senior Cup team.

With kick-off at 3am New Zealand time, it’ll be a late night or an early morning for Holland to follow Christians’ bid to dethrone Pres at Virgin Media Park.

“That session was one of the highlights of the season really,” says Lee. “He texted to say, these are the best times of yer lives so make sure the lads enjoy it. And that’s really important.

“We’d love to look at it as another game but it’s not really with the buzz up in the school. The message is to enjoy the week.”

This Christians crop have experienced more than their fair share of final pain at the hands of treble-chasing Pres.

Eight of last year’s starting team remain, including six of the backline. The half-back pairing of Christopher Barrett and captain Charlie O’Shea, plus winger Alex O’Connell, are starting in their third consecutive final.

Most of this team were also involved in the 2022 Junior Cup final, where Pres emerged 14-10 winners.

“I don’t see any negative impact from being in two finals and the lads coming up short in both,” says Lee.

“If anything, these fellas have the bit between their teeth so hopefully they can turn that past hurt into a positive on Thursday.”

Christians have plenty motivation, but Pres won't lack their own

Lee has been involved with Christians for a dozen years and took on the mantle of forwards coach last term before stepping up to the top job.

He has experienced that same cup-final feeling as his players from his own schooldays, which were dogged by near misses at the hands of a future Munster great.

“Anthony Foley’s St Munchin’s team beat us when I was in sixth year. There was just one point in it in Musgrave Park at the time. The year before, we were beaten by Pres in the semi-final.

“In the Junior Cup, we were beaten by an Anthony Foley-led team. He was doing everything. He was doing the goal-kicking as well on the day.

“Unfortunately, I didn’t get anything. We had good teams, no doubt, but we just came up short. I suppose that increases the bit of hunger.”

His first season at the helm has gone smoothly. Like Pres, they have won every Senior Cup outing with a minimum of four tries. For extra flair, they have broken the 50-point mark three times in five games.

“We’ve had a great season from start to finish,” reflects Lee. “We came back earlier than we normally would, in mid-July, whereas normally the lads would come back when school starts.

“We had a full pre-season. It was great for me to get to know the players that are coming through.

“We’ve had a lot of success. We went unbeaten bar one game versus Blackrock up in Dublin. They gave us a bit of a hiding that day so we reflected after that game because it wasn’t good enough.

“We did an Alicante trip for warm-weather training and that stood to the lads. We wanted to treat it as professionally as we possibly could, but at the same time, looking at it as a bonding trip.”

A recent “feelgood factor” has been the return of Craig Hughes from a long-term injury.

“Craig broke his leg very badly back in October,” says Lee.

“It looked like it was going to be a season-ender for him but it’s just a measure of the man that he’s worked so hard, it’s only four months after he broke it so badly, and he’s in the matchday 25, which is brilliant for him.”

Their former teammates and current Ireland U20 regulars Michael Foy, Éanna McCarthy, and Conor Kennelly returned to their alma mater this week to present the jerseys ahead of a CBC-PBC match-up they know plenty about.

The possibility of equalling Pres on 32 titles adds further spice.

“Pres are going for three in a row, we’ve come up short, and they have that experience with cup finals and winning them,” says Lee.

“I’m sure if you asked our fellas, and the same with Pres, who would they like to play in a cup final, Pres want to play Christians and Christians want to play Pres. That’s just the way it is.

“At the end of the day, a lot of these fellas are buddies and they live close together.

“I believe it’s going to be close to a full house again in Musgrave Park. It’s a really special occasion and it’s great for the two Cork schools to have another cut off each other.”