Glenstal add greater depth in Limerick

John O'Sullivan suggests there is a stronger challenge for Munster honours from Limerick than in recent years

It may be regarded as a little presumptuous to tout a brand new dawn in Munster schools rugby but at least this season's senior cup heralds a more open competition than in recent years. Christian Brothers College, Cork, and Presentation Brothers College, Cork, the market leaders in silverware down south once again find their names bandied as potential champions but the Limerick axis is set to throw down a serious challenge.

In the last 25 years it was Crescent College Comprehensive and St Munchin's College to whom Limerick folk looked to break the Cork monopoly. It now seems though that there is greater depth to that assault with Ard Scoil Rís and Glenstal Abbey showing signs of bridging the divide that had existed previously.

Up until five years ago Ard Scoil Rís plied their trade in Section B (weaker schools) so their transformation is remarkable. A tour to South Africa last summer is the basis for the excellent showing of this season's squad that has seen them already twice beat Pres Cork and also Crescent and Rockwell.

Des Harty has Ireland second row Paul O'Connell's alma mater primed for their quarter-final clash with Rockwell.

When it comes to schools cup lore, Glenstal Abbey has traded on a single memory, the 1972 Munster Schools' Cup final; after all there is losing and losing when there hasn't been a maiden voyage to the winner's podium.

In Glenstal last year's Junior Cup team reached the semi-final so the suggestion is that this season's promise could be sustained over coming campaigns. SCT coach Denis Hooper has the added "distraction" since Christmas of being appointed headmaster.

Despite a very full schedule he laughs and suggests that it is "important to get your priorities right", on continuing to guide the senior rugby team.

Glenstal is another school for whom a summer tour of the Southern Hemisphere, this time to Australia, has forged potential and promise into something more tangible. Flanker Neil Shee recalls their Antipodean adventure.

"It was basically last year's senior team and this season's squad. We went to Surfers Paradise, Gosford, and Sydney among other places over about the guts of a four-week period.

"We never disgraced ourselves in probably playing about 16 matches. The highlight was beating a New Zealand School, St Peter's, Auckland, in a carnival of rugby up at Surfers Paradise. It was 20 minutes-a-side games and we finished third of 16 teams.

"This season has been thoroughly enjoyable despite the fact that we have had more than our fair share of injuries (Glenstal would have less than 30 players from which to pick their Senior Cup squad). There are still four players out but we hope to have them back by the time the cup starts. They would make a huge difference to our chances. We feel that we have a great opportunity to do well."

Glenstal face St Munchin's in the quarter-finals hoping they can improve on the form that has seen them beat Crescent, St Gerard's, St Andrew's and thrash Bandon Grammar. There was also a narrow 22-20 loss to Ard Scoil Rís in what Shee describes as a hugely enjoyable game.

He pays tribute to another of the coaching team, John Lane, a former Irish Universities prop who has had a big impact. Training three times a week may seem anaemic when compared against the modus operandi of Leinster's schools elite but if results this season are anything to go by it more than suffices.

The emergence of Ard Scoil Rís and Glenstal, schools that hopefully, along with Rockwell and Crescent, establish a broader base of quality in the Munster competition, needs to be reflected in the selection of the Munster schools side.

There is a feeling within the province that too much homage is paid to too few schools. Results of the last three seasons suggest that broadening the base would be a matter of priority.

Glenstal won't win this season's Senior Cup - beating the defending champions St Munchin's in the quarter-final would represent a huge achievement - but the development of the sport within the school despite low playing numbers deserves to be acknowledged.