LEINSTER SCHOOLS' SENIOR CUP: John O'Sullivan looks forward to some enthralling encounters in this season's competition and attempts to predict a final pairing

It is the season of old school ties and the half-day culture. The onset of the Leinster Schools' Senior Cup - it begins with the clash of defending champions Terenure College and St Mary's College at Donnybrook on Sunday - is greeted with enthusiasm not only by the participants and their schoolmates but former pupils that have long seen the back of the school gates.

It defies the cold analysis that suggests the appeal of a competition for which there can be only a tiny number of winners from 23 participants should be muted. Instead it espouses the maxim that it is the taking part and not the winning that is important.

DLS Churchtown were the last winners outside the heavyweight tranche of Blackrock College, Terenure College, Clongowes Wood College and St Mary's College, a victory that dates back to 1985. Since then the majority of schools have been forced to feed on the crumbs of the elite; for many a semi-final appearance constitutes a tremendous achievement.

Nothing is likely to change in this season's competition. Despite being hamstrung by a lob-sided draw in which several of the big schools have been squeezed together in the bottom half, the winner is likely to come from Belvedere, St Mary's, Blackrock or Terenure.

For two lucky schools, favoured by the draw, a place in the semi-final awaits. One of them might have to brace themselves for a potential hiding. This does nothing for the image of the competition. The IRFU, through the standing schools committee, is looking into the structures of the respective provincial competitions.

There is a groundswell of opinion from within the schools' community that demands change. In the competition it is possible 12 schools will have just one match. That is four and a half months of blood and sweat ending in tears - the prospect of 70 minutes fare sullied in several cases by a soul-destroying mismatch that will culminate in a thrashing.

When unrealistic expectations and cloying pressure are added to the cocktail, it's a wonder that any players from second and third tier schools can enjoy the competition. The present system is not fair on the players and it's not fair on the teachers who coach them. Their dedication deserves more than one outing. Arriving at a structure will be difficult.

There is considerable merit to the suggestion that the elite from the respective provinces should be removed from their respective cups and thrown together in a national competition.

An All-Ireland Schools' Cup that would throw up fixtures like Terenure v Pres, Cork, or Methody v Blackrock needs very little elaboration.

Where once there was the argument that travelling would be disruptive to a pupil's education, it no longer holds water. Schools travel the length and breadth of Ireland to fulfil fixtures. Matches could be played prior to European Cup or Celtic League games. Attracting a sponsor would be straightforward.

The 12 teams could be split into two groups of five with matches played from mid October to March. The top two teams in each group would contest the semi-finals, followed by a final. The schools that don't feature in the top 12 could continue with the provincial competitions.

The traditionalists will balk but the successful evolution of schools rugby is important to the future of Irish rugby. It cannot be achieved under the present format. Despite the constraints, this season's Leinster Schools' Senior Cup is likely to throw up several enthralling encounters.

Belvedere are considered favourites by all bar themselves. The coming together of three excellent teams, including the Junior Cup winners from two years ago, to form the senior panel highlight's the talent at their disposal. Led by Leinster captain David O'Brien they will be favoured to negotiate a passage to the final that will include demanding encounters with Newbridge, St Michael's and possibly league winners, Roscrea, or High School in the semi-final.

Champions Terenure suffered from poor early-season form but sweeping changes in personnel helped them to turn around their pre-cup trials with several fine victories. They square up to St Mary's College in the first round, the latter considered the strongest side in the bottom half of the draw.

Terenure did beat St Mary's in a friendly but the Rathmines school could prevail in their cup meeting.

It's a non-vintage year for Clongowes so they probably won't stop the winner of Terenure/St Mary's: the victors would then face Blackrock in the quarter-final providing last season's beaten finalists squeeze past CBC Monkstown who have already beaten them this season.

In borrowing from the expertise of others, I tentatively suggest that it will be a Belvedere v St Mary's final. Having unhappily, and under duress, committed this to print I await chastisement.

Did you know . . . . . .

•That Skerries outhalf Conal Keane is a younger brother of Munster and Garryowen's Killian.

•That David Kearns who plays on this year's Newbridge Senior Cup team is the son of John, who was a member of the last Newbridge team to win the Senior Cup in 1970.

•That High School's Robbie Burns is a son of former Ireland, Leinster and Wanderers outhalf Ian, who was on the last High School team to win the Senior Cup. Ian's half-back partner that day was one John Robbie. Spot the connection.

•That Wesley College lost to the eventual champions in 2000 (Clongowes) and 2001 (Terenure). No pressure on High School this year then.

•That the King's Hospital squad contains eight of last year's Junior Cup team that won the league.

•That CBC Monkstown head for Australia this summer for three weeks where next year's senior team will play a few matches.

•That CUS captain Morgan Hynes follows a proud family tradition. His father, Garry captained the CUS Senior team in 1961 while his uncle, Brian, enjoyed a similar honour two years later in 1963.

•That Gonzaga College are coached by the current Ireland Schools coach, Bobby Byrne and St Michael's College are coached by Leinster Schools coach Paul Barr.

Former Ireland coach Gerry Murphy is an invaluable member of the Terenure College coaching staff.

•That St Gerard's College assistant coach Adrian Dungan taught in CUS, the school they meet in the first round, up until two years ago.

•That CBC Monkstown will be without full-back Ian O'Reilly because of injury which is also interfering with his soccer commitments.

He is currently nursing a groin strain and cannot play for both the school and St Joseph's soccer club because of the injury. He is hoping to get a soccer scholarship to UCD.