Leinster schools senior cup - Team-by-team guide

Belvedere College

Coaches: Dermot Kavanagh, Mark Adam.

Captain: Brian Carson.

Players from last year: J Canavan, B Carson, A Cloonan, G Doyle, T Fahy, M Hayes, J Hedigan, R Leyden, H Lord, B McArdle, B McGarrity, B McLoughlin, Gary Murphy, Gavin Murphy, B O'Brien, D O'Brien, E O'Griofa, E O'Meara, D O'Reilly, K Smith, T Whelan, J Wickham, G Woodcock.

Last five years: 2000 first round; 1999 quarter-final; 1998 first round; 1997 semi-final; 1996 second round.

Verdict: Large representation from last year's squad, they should prove too good for St Paul's, but will then face defending champions Clongowes. Despite hammering the Kildare school earlier in the season, this could prove a stumbling block. Could provide one of the matches of the year.

Blackrock College

Coaches: Alan McGinty, Toirleac O'Brien.

Captain: John Ronan.

Players from last year: J Ronan, D Geraghty, J Waldron, D Gannon, C Sharpe, M Whelan, G Fitzgerald, D Mannion.

Last five years: 2000 quarter-final; 1999 winners; 1998 second round; 1997 semi-final; 1996 winners.

Verdict: Probable champions. Outstanding victory in the St Joseph's tournament and a large smattering of interprovincial players. Michael's will be a tough hurdle first up, but their passage looks easier from there.

Castleknock College

Coaches: Mick Quinn, Jimmy Bruen, Colin Townsend.

Captain: Colm Manning.

Players from last year: J Challenor, P Daly, P Duffy, J Louth, C Manning, C Mescall, K O'Neill, J Reid, G Ryan, S Crawford, K Collins, S Avakov.

Five-year record: 2000 quarter-final; 1999: quarter-final; 1998 quarter-final; 1997 round two; 1996 quarter-final.

Verdict: Having already won the league, Castleknock should mount a strong cup campaign. Likely to meet Gonzaga and then Monkstown or Newbridge, none of whom will have Mick Quinn's charges trembling.

CBC Monkstown

Coaches: Pat Fox, Neil Ferguson.

Captain: Johnny Walsh.

Players from last year: J Walsh, S O'Farrelly, Niall Byrne, Keith Doyle, A Murray, B O'Connor.

Last five years: 2000 semi-finals; 1999 first round; 1998 second round; 1997 second round; 1996 second round.

Verdict: Took part in a memorable semi-final last year and, at their best, could make the same stage this season. However, while they should beat CUS, they will need to peak against Newbridge, in a match in which they will start as underdogs.

Cistercian College, Roscrea

Coach: Johan Taylor.

Captain: Pierce Breen.

Players from last year: Alan Kavanagh, Pierce Breen, Enda Kelliher, Don Ross.

Last five years: 2000 first round; 1999 final; 1998 semi-final; 1997 quarter-final; 1996 first round.

Verdict: "We are building a new side this year and they are coming nicely together. The draw is favourable. With things going well, we would see a semi-final as a good possibility." - Gerry Hayes (head gamesmaster).

Clongowes Wood College

Coaches: Noel Murray, Adam Lewis.

Captain: Robert O'Toole.

Players from last year: C Klinkenberg, J Moran, S Dunne, R O'Toole, Jenkinson, P Berkery.

Last five years: 2000 winners; 1999 quarter-final; 1998 winners; 1997 beaten finalists, 1996 semi-final.

Verdict: Coaches Noel Murray and Adam Lewis report that the early season form was good but that the panel struggled during the friendly season. Now preparations are going well and team confidence is being restored. They are looking forward to defending last year's title against De La Salle in what should be a very competitive game.

CUS

Coaches: Stephen Tonge, Derek Guy Lewis, Shane O'Neill.

Captain: Cian Malone.

Players from last year: R Shannon, C Malone, B Fitzgerald, S Davis, G Collins, G Carthy.

Last five years: 2000 second round; 1999 first round; 1998 first round; 1997 quarterfinals; 1996 first round.

Verdict: "Let's hope the lads get the reward for the dedication they have shown and the hard work they have put in all season." - Stephen Tonge (coach).

DLS Churchtown

Coaches: Lorcan Balfe, Thomas Leigh.

Captain: Keith Taite.

Players from last year: K Taite, P Maguire, A Byron, A Boland, B Corish, R Gallagher, M Dormer, D McNamara, P Young.

Last four years: 2000 first round; 1999 first round; 1998 first round; 1997 first round.

Verdict: Face the daunting task of taking on defending champions Clongowes in competition's opening match. Well coached and with a tradition of character and honesty, dwindling numbers in the school have seen them struggle in recent years.

Gonzaga College

Coaches: Bobby Byrne, Kevin Whirdy.

Captain: Michael Fanning.

Players from last year: M Fanning, J McCloskey, D Toomey.

Last five years: 2000 first round; 1999 quarter-final; 1998 first round; 1997 quarterfinal; 1996 second round.

Verdict: "We have played High School twice this season, the first time in the first match of the season when we lost narrowly. We then beat them in the league quarter-final, so I feel it is very much a case of on the day. We would be hopeful that we could progress." - Bobby Byrne (coach).

The High School

Coaches: David Wright, Ray Walker.

Captain: Steven Day.

Players from last year: J Kelly, E McNally, J Collery, R Burns, C Sookram, T O'Brien, P de Barra, J Maher, T Bass, N O'Byrne, S Loane.

Last five years: 2000 second round; 1999 second round; 1998 first round; 1997 first round; 1996 quarter-final.

Verdict: Stand at 1-1 in their meetings with Gonzaga this season. Will start as marginal underdogs but could easily win out on the day.

Kilkenny College

Coaches: Kevin Clayton, Philip Jones.

Captain: Richard Jones.

Players from last year: S Holland, R Deverell, C Peavoy, G Greene, G Jacob, R Jones, G Rowe, B Thackaberry, B Thompson, T Langley, J Harvey, I Corrigan.

Last five years: 2000 semi-final; 1999 quarter-final; 1998 second round; 1997 Section A; 1996 Section A.

Verdict: "It'll be a very tough match against Roscrea, toss of a coin really, as both schools will fancy their chances. We are hoping to maintain the steady progress of the last four or five years." - James Morrow (Head Games Master).

The King's Hospital

Coaches: Dermot Kelleher, John Huggard, Brett Igoe.

Captain: David Myers.

Players from last year: D Myers, P Caldwell, S Rand, J Wynne, M Pitt, C Glynn, K Sothern, J Broadhead, O Ekuma-Nkama, A Trenier.

Last five years: 2000 second round; 1999 second round; 1998 quarter-final; 1997 second round; 1996 quarter-final.

Verdict: A strong nucleus from last year's team, they will be expected to account for St Andrew's first time out, but would then enjoy the dubious pleasure of encountering Blackrock College.

Mount Temple

Coaches: Matt Kelly, Stephen Magee.

Captain: Ian Kelly.

Players from last year: J Kennedy, Gary Kelly, Noel Leonard, D Milne, Tagdh O'Mahony, M Finglas, J Fitzachary, I Kelly, D Moore, C Scott-Keogh, D Ffrench.

Last four years: 2001 Section A finalists; 2000 Section A semi-final; 1999 Section A winners; 1998 Section A winners.

Verdict: Narrowly lost last Wednesday's Section A final against St Columba's. Mary's shock defeat to Kilkenny last season will make them wary this time around.

Newbridge College

Coaches: Paddy Butler, Dave Brew.

Captain: Breffni O'Donnell (probable).

Players from last year: J Heaslip, B O'Donnell, P Quinn, J O'Donovan.

Last five years: 2000 second round; 1999 semi-final; 1998 second round; 1997 second round; 1996 beaten finalists.

Verdict: "We're very hopeful. We have a very talented, promising side. Hopefully that will be reflected when it comes time to play." - Paul Cunningham (Head Games Master).

Presentation College, Bray.

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

Captain: Mark Flynn.

Players from last year: Peter Hipple, Mark Flynn, Conor Larkin, Ronan Carroll.

Last five years: 2000 quarter-finals; 1999 second round; 1998 second round; 1997 first round; 1996 first round.

Verdict: "This year's side is young and inexperienced. It has taken the players quite a while to adjust to senior level. As a result it has been a difficult season. However, the side has shown improvement of late and we look forward to a tough encounter with Templeogue" - Pat Gregory (team manager).

St Andrew's College

Coaches: David Boyd, Gordon Laing, Tony Ward.

Captain: Darren Hayes.

Players from last year: R Gaughan, C Mullen, D Murray, M Stewart, D Hayes.

Last five years: 2000 first round; 1999 first round; 1998 second round; 1997; 1996.

Verdict: A very young side is unlikely to make any impression this year and should find King's Hospital too strong. Performance is likely to bring the only satisfaction.

St Columba's College

Coaches: John Farrelly and Jeremy Stone.

Captain: Jonathon Moore.

Players from last year: J Moore, A Wilson, W Turner, R McArdle, D Nolan, G Sweeney.

Last five years: 2000 semi-final (Section A); 1999 semi-final (Section A); 1998 first round; 1997 semi-final (Section A); 1996 semi-final (Section A).

Verdict: The premier side in Section A by virtue of last Wednesday's victory, they face a tough game against Newbridge. Shouldn't lack confidence, but might not be strong enough to make an impact in Section B.

St Gerard's College

Coaches: Joe McDonnell, Matthew Ward, Adrian Dungan.

Captain: Ben Silverlock.

Players from last year: B Silverlock, K Connolly, Ross Mooney, Stephen Moran, Alex Searson, Niall Clauberg.

Last five years: 2000 first round; 1999 second round; 1998 first round; 1997 first round; 1996 irst round.

Verdict: Not the best draw for the Bray school as they take on league champions Castleknock in the first round. Unlikely to progress.

St Michael's College

Coaches: Paul Barr, Gary Coakley.

Captain: Paddy McKillian.

Players from last year: J Traynor, B Hurley, P McKillian, K Kennedy.

Last five years: 2000 first round; 1999 first round; 1998 first round; 1997 quarter-final; 1996 quarter-final.

Verdict: Definitely the fixture that no one wanted. Won't stop Michael's from relishing a tilt at sister school Blackrock. Very well coached and innovative to boot, they will be worth watching, albeit on a once-off basis.

St Mary's College

Coaches: Derek Jennings, Derek Earley, Dave Breslin, Ciaran O'Donnell.

Captain: Gary O'Brien.

Players from last year: D Ryan, B McCormack, J McInerney, C Potts, D O'Brien, G O'Brien, G Cullen, C Connolly, I O'Herlihy.

Last five years: 2000 quarter-final; 1999 semi-final; 1998 semi-final; 1997 second round; 1996 second round.

Verdict: "After last year's shock defeat against Kilkenny we are taking nothing for granted against Mount Temple." - Clive Byrne (manager).

St Paul's College

Coaches: Brendan Fanning, Jim McIlvenna.

Captain: Brian Stokes.

Players from last year: G Johnson, A Nolan, R Creedon, BJ McHenry, P Dwane, B Stokes, R Murphy.

Last three years: 2000 first round; 1999 second round; 1998 quarter-finals.

Verdict: "It is a young team and about 10 of the 15 will return next year. The draw has been unkind. We have been pitted against a big school where rugby is taken very seriously." - Brendan Fanning (coach).

Templeogue College

Coaches: Philip Rigney. Assistants: Enda Gormley, Conor McPhillips.

Captain: Ken McInerney.

Players from last year: B Donohue, K McInerney, E Nevin, C O'Keeffe, D Reynolds (injured), C Ryan, D Walsh.

Last five years: Not available.

Verdict: Have struggled in pre-season friendlies, but have a decent chance of making the quarter-finals with a victory over Pres Bray in their opening (second round) match.

Terenure College

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

Captain: Donal Dunlop.

Leinster players: D McAllister, S Jenkinson, J Barretto, R McDonnell.

Last five years: 2000 beaten finalists; 1999 first round; 1998 beaten finalists; 1997 winners; 1996 semi-final.

Verdict: "While our friendly fixture results have been encouraging, these count for nothing on cup day. We will not be underestimating our first-round opponents." - Eddie Geraghty (Head Games Master).

Wesley College

Coaches: Fred O'Brien, Nick Johnston.

Captain: Brian Hastings.

Players from last year: A O Connor, M Gray, Stuart Abbott, S Wallace, Brian Hastings, M Hastings, O Ashiru.

Last five years: 2000 first round; 1999 first round; 1998 first round; 1997 first round; 1996 first round.

Verdict: Will they provide the shock of the first round by toppling Terenure? In flanker Stuart Abbot they possess a player of outstanding ability and, in tandem with Stephen Wallace, an impressive back row. Injuries hampered them early season, but this could prove the match of the round.