Leinster Team-By-Team Guide

Blackrock College

Coaches: Alan McGinty, Niall Toolan, Toirleac O'Brien, Peter Smyth.

Players from last year: Jodie Danagher, Daire Higgins, Ross Molloy, John Ronan.

Representative players: Jodie Danagher, John Ronan, Michael Carroll (capt), Steven Delaney, Ross McCormack.

Pre-Cup record: P 18, W 13, D 1, L 4.

Verdict: The defending champions are potential finalists. Their clash with the winner's of the St Mary's and St Michael's - 'Rock should be too good for either Clongowes or Wesley in the quarter-finals - will provide the favourites for the final. May not quite manage to emulate last year's feat.

Belvedere College

Coaches: Dermot Kavanagh, Michael Todd.

Players from last year: Martin Garvey (capt), Eoghan O'Dwyer.

Representative players: None.

Pre-Cup record: P 16, W 6, D 0 L 10.

Verdict: Not a vintage year for the school but they do boast a young side. Good pre-cup victory over Pres Cork and certainly favoured by the draw. Tough second round (their first match) against Pres Bray and if they win a likely quarterfinal against Monkstown. Very open bottom quarter makes it difficult to predict but any one of the four sides could make the semi-finals.

Castleknock

Coaches: M Quinn, C Quinn, J Bruen, C Townsend.

Players from last year: John Lyne, Philip Guckian, Kevin McCabe, David Harris, Colm Manning, Andrew Lynch.

Representative players: John Lyne.

Pre-Cup record: P 17 W 6, D 1, L 10.

Verdict: Take on beaten Section A finalists Wilson's Hospital in the first round and should then oppose Roscrea. Not without hope in this match but may just be shaded out by the Tipperary school. Further progress would pit them against Terenure, ending their interest.

CUS

Coaches: Marc Adam, Iain Synott, Stephen Tonge.

Players from last year: Neil Byrne, Graham Carty, Colin Brehony, Stephen Davis, Paul Maher, Daniel Gwens, Aodhan O'Shea, Paul Brady (capt), Aidan Malone, Eoin Gantley, Gary Keegan, Adrian Smith, Alan Duffy.

Representative players: None.

Pre-Cup record: W 5, D 1, L 7.

Verdict: Await the winner of the Clongowes/Wesley match and would do so without a great deal of confidence. The performance on the day may be their only satisfaction this year.

CBC Monkstown

Coaches: Pat Fox, Neil Ferguson.

Players from last year: Darren McKenna, Niall Kearns, James Kirwan, Stephen Kearns, George Mahon, John Walsh.

Representative players: Darren McKenna.

Pre-Cup record: W 8, D 4, L 6.

Verdict: Favoured by being in the bottom quarter of the draw and should win their opening match (second round) against St Gerard's. This would give them a quarter-final against Pres Bray or Belvedere, a tie in which they could prevail. Winning would offer a possible repeat of the 1984 final against Terenure, this time in a semi-final.

Cistercian Roscrea

Coaches: Diarmuid Fitzgerald, Kevin West.

Players from last year: Redmond Barry, Cian Begley, Gerard Corcoran, Gavin Duffy, David Farrell, Niall Grogan, Alan Kavanagh, Barry McCann (capt), Noel Maloney, Fearghal O'Connor, Aaron Spring, Emmet Thompson.

Representative players: Redmond Barry, Gavin Duffy, Aaron Spring.

Pre-Cup record: P 10, W 3, D 0, L 7.

Verdict: A poor pre-cup record does not augur well for their chances but their position in the draw does. Boast Irish schools centre Gavin Duffy and Leinster players Aaron Spring and Redmond Barry: they also have 12 of last year's panel - they were beaten in the final by 'Rock - available. Should oppose Terenure in the quarter-final, where they should pose the latter's most serious test.

Clongowes Wood

Coaches: Noel Murray, Rob Taylor.

Players from last year: John Smyth (capt), Matthew Kelly, Mark Egan, David Hickey, Aidan Proctor, Mark Rooney, Robert O'Toole, Dylan Redmond, David Clavin.

Representative players: John Smyth, Philip Treacy.

Pre-Cup record: P 11, W 6, D 2, L 3.

Verdict: The absence of the late Vinnie Murray from the sideline will be keenly felt by this season's team but they will try and make this campaign a tribute to his memory. Face a tricky opener against the league winners, Wesley, but their redoubtable spirit and quality players like John Smyth and Philip Treacy will see them through to a quarter-final with 'Rock.

DLS Churchtown

Coaches: Lorcan Balfe, Thomas Leigh.

Players from last year: Eoghan Hickey (capt), Keith Tante, Jamie D'Alton, Philip Cleary, Derek McNamara, Paul Young, Paul Maguire, Alan Boland.

Representative players: Eoghan Hickey.

Pre-Cup record: P 13, W 4, D 0, L 9.

Verdict: Could not face a tougher opening assignment than opposing Terenure College. Despite the presence of Leinster Schools out-half Eoghan Hickey, their cup run should not extend beyond the first match.

Gonzaga College

Coaches: Bobby Byrne, Kevin Whirdy.

Players from last year: Ferdia Bolster, Alan Butterly, Mark Conlon, Conal Ellis, Conor Gahan (capt), Paul Grant, Paddy Mohr, Daire Stewart.

Representative players: None.

Pre-Cup record: P 14, W 9, D 0, L 5.

Verdict: Take on league runners-up Kilkenny College first time out. Eight players remain from last year's side but will still find the first game very difficult. Won't go beyond the next round anyway. One, possibly two matches.

Kilkenny College

Coaches: Kevin Clayton, Philip Jones.

Players from last year: Russell Armstrong, Richard Jones, Douglas James, Justin Kidd, Ian Galbraith, Adrian Copeland, Bruce Thompson, Kevin Stanley, Philip Ryan, Gary Rowe, Gordon Hemmingway, Colin Peavoy, Rory Devereux.

Representative players: Richard Jones.

Pre-Cup record: P 16, W 11, D 1, L 4.

Verdict: Playing in Section for only the second season they confirmed their new status by reaching the league final before being narrowly beaten by Wesley. Should have every chance against Gonzaga. Boast Leinster scrum-half Richard Jones.

Newbridge College

Coaches: Greg McInerney, Declan Corbett.

Players from last year: Aidan Wilson, Robert McCabe, Daragh O'Shea, Kevin Neylon.

Representative players: None.

Pre-Cup record: P 14, W 4, D 0, L 10.

Verdict: Four players return from last year's side to provide a sliver of experience in what will be a very young side. The Kildare school harbour greater expectations in the junior cup. Might slip past St Paul's but no further.

Presentation Bray

Coaches: Wayne Robertson, Breffni O'Hagan, Bobby O'Keeffe.

Players from last year: Brian Murphy, Seamus Kennedy, Donal Mannion, Stephen Flood, Darren Kelly, Robert Connolly, Eoin Farrell, Simon Fortune, Niall McCartney, Simon Broderick, Conor Larkin, Ronan Carroll.

Representative players: Brian Murphy, Robert Connolly.

Pre-Cup record: P 13, W 9, D 2, L 2.

Verdict: Very good number eight in Robert Connolly and fielding 12 players from last year's squad. Beat Belvedere in a pre-cup friendly and will be confident that they could do so again. Good draw carries the carrot of a potential semi-final place.

St Andrews College

Coaches: David Boyd, Tony Ward.

Players from last year: Neil Menzies, Robert Chadwick, Arthur Molyneaux, Andrew O'Toole (capt), Hugh O'Hagan, Peter Dumbleton, Jamie Gill.

Representative players: None.

Pre-Cup record: P 15, W 12, D 1, L 2.

Verdict: Good pre-cup form that might have offered a league final place but for a late Wesley score. Difficult game against King's Hospital in which they might squeak through but Blackrock will dispose of either team in the second round.

St Gerard's Bray

Coaches: Joe McDonnell, Micheal McMullan.

Players from last year: David McKechnie, Breffni Behan, Stewart O'Connell, Alex Searson, Ciaran Maudae, Eoin Flinn, Bobby Fitzmaurice, Lochlainn Farrell, Colm O'Duill, Charlie Cannon.

Representative players: None.

Pre-Cup record: P 17, W 9, D 0, L 8.

Verdict: The draw would look very appealing to the Bray school if they could get past Monkstown. Their opponents won easily in the pre-cup clash and would be fancied to do so again.

St Mary's College

Coaches: Derek Jennings, Derek Earley, Ciaran O'Donnell, Garrett Kelleher.

Players from last year: Eoin Higgins, Shane Jennings, Simon Nagle, David O'Sullivan, Conor Queenan, Keith Rynhart, Matt Wallis.

Representative players: Conor Queenan, Shane Jennings.

Pre-Cup record: P 11, W 8, D 1, L 2.

Verdict: Strongly favoured by many respected schools rugby pundits to claim the title. Seven players from last year's side including the talented Shane Jennings. Their clash with Michael's is the tie of the second round. To win they will need to overcome the latter, Blackrock and possibly Terenure, a very tough assignment.

St Michael's College

Coaches: Paul Barr, Gary Coakley, David Schmude.

Players from last year: Stephen Rockett, Simon Byrne (capt), Robert Aitken.

Representative players: Simon Byrne, Stephen Rockett.

Pre-Cup record: P 11, W 3, D 2, L 6.

Verdict: Much better than their meagre record suggests. Have been very unfortunate in recent draws and this time find themselves pitted against Mary's. True to character they will offer a huge test but look to lack Mary's obvious depth of quality.

St Paul's College

Coaches: Alex Wyllie, Jim McIlvenna.

Players from last year: Brian Anerlynck, Philip Dwane, Terry Kelly, Stephen Lynch, Philip Mahon, Tommy Markham, Mark O'Siochain (capt), Colin Staunton, Brian Stokes.

Representative players: None.

Pre-Cup record: P 9, W 3, D 0, L 6.

Verdict: Coached by Alex Wyllie who masterminded Argentina's World Cup quarter-final victory over Ireland in Lens. Could trouble Newbridge but a second round place would be the limit of their aspirations.

Skerries Community College

Coaches: Padraic Connolly, Nick Heeney.

Players from last year: Ross McCorry, Owen McGonagle, Neil Walsh, Barry Murray, Andrew Jenkins, Andrew McGuinness, Sean Carroll, Paddy O'Sullivan, Colm Whearity (capt), David Garrigan.

Representative players: Barry Murray, Paddy O'Sullivan (both Leinster A).

Pre-Cup record: P 12, W 9, D 0, L 3.

Verdict: Winners of the Section A competition, their `reward' was a clash with Blackrock College in the first round of Section B. In one sense a damage limitation exercise, in another an opportunity to test themselves against the best.

Terenure College

Coaches: Des Thornton, Charlie O'Sullivan, Alan Ryan, Gerry Murphy.

Players from last year: Sean King, Barry Flynn, Donal Dunlop, Graham Crawford, James Keogh, Brian Blaney, Richard Gernon, Anthony Kelly, Robbie Sparks.

Representative players: Barry Flynn, Anthony Kelly, Richard Gernon, Brian Blaney, James Keogh.

Pre-Cup record: P 20 W 18, D 0, L 2.

Verdict: Should make the final without being unduly extended. Five Leinster players and nine returning from last year's squad underline both quality and strength. By virtue of an easier passage they should be reasonably fresh come March 17th, worrying for either Blackrock or St Mary's. Potential champions.

The High School

Coaches: David Wright, Ray Walker.

Players from last year: not available.

Representative players: None.

Pre-Cup record: P 20, W 11, D 0, L 9.

Verdict: Will find themselves very much the underdogs when they meet Roscrea in Carlow in the first round. Victory would be little short of sensational.

The King's Hospital

Coaches: John Huggard, Dermot Kelleher.

Players from last year: Emmet Wadrell (capt), Ronan Sheridan, Niall Flanagan, Philip Caldwell, John Wynne, Simon Rand, David Myers, Alan Trenier, Onye Ekuma-Nkama, Clive Hannan.

Representative players: None.

Pre-Cup record: P 7 W 2, D 1, L 4.

Verdict: Can look forward to a tour to Italy in April that may offer some consolation if they fall at the first hurdle. Should find St Andrews a little too accomplished.

Wesley College

Coaches: Fred O'Brien, Keith Lemon, Duncan Clark.

Players from last year: Kevin Corrigan, Sam Dawson, David Rowe, Stuart Abbott, Stephen Wallace, Michael Hastings.

Representative players: Stuart Abbott, Kevin Corrigan.

Pre-Cup record: P 13, W 11, D 0, L 2.

Verdict: No matter how they fare in the cup, they can look back on a good season by virtue of their league success. Big pack but that may not be enough to overcome Clongowes.

Wilson's Hospital

Coach: Len Ethell.

Players from last year: Ivan Poole, Aidan Finnan, Sam Champ (capt), Kiernan Brennan, Matthew Ethell, Ivan Ferris, Michael Walsh, Mark Finlay, John Hargroves.

Representative players: Ivan Poole, Ivan Ferris, Christopher Knowles (all Leinster A).

Pre-Cup record: P 10, W 7, D 0, L 3.

Verdict: Reaching the Section A final for the fourth time in nine years underlines the school's growing strength in the weaker section but this season's campaign is likely to be a short lived affair ending in their first outing, against Castleknock.

Munster Senior Cup

First Round (home venues): January 26th: (A) St Enda's v Cashel; (B) St Nesan's v Waterpark College; (C) Scoil Mhuire & Ide Newcastlewest v Colaiste Mhuire, Crosshaven; (D) Midleton v Bandon. Second Round: February 2nd: (E) A v B; (F) C v D.

Third Round: February 16th: (G) E v Glenstal.

Quarter-finals: February 16th: (H) Crescent v St Munchin's. February 11th: (I) PBC Cork v CBC Cork. February 15th: (J) F v Ard Scoil Ris; (K) G v Rockwell.

Semi-finals: March 1st: (L) I v J. March 5th: (M) H v K. Final: March 17th: L v M, Musgrave Park.