Terenure and Belvedere clash the highlight of the first round

JUNIOR CUP:THERE CAN be no doubting the most appetising fixture in the first round proper of the Powerade sponsored Leinster Schools Junior Cup as two of the traditional powerhouses, Terenure College and Belvedere College, clash.

The winner of that tie will most probably find themselves opposing Presentation Brothers Bray - the latter are in the League final - who must first get past the as yet undecided qualifier from the Fr Godfrey Cup.

The presence of Blackrock College, along with two more qualifiers in this half of the draw, suggests that Belvedere or Pres Bray are likely opponents for the Williamstown school in the semi-final.

Defending Junior Cup winners Clongowes Wood College are strong favourites to retain the title they won in such impressive fashion last year. They have yet to be beaten prior to the cup and retain five starting players and a further two from the panel that helped the Kildare school to victory last season.

CBC Monkstown and St Michael's should be a keenly contested opening fixture, but the fact the reward for the victor is a tilt with Clongowes suggests any euphoria might be short-lived.

Further down the draw, it has been suggested that St Mary's or Gonzaga will provide Clongowes opposition in a semi-final; the obvious codicil is that none of these matches take place on paper.

FR GODFREY CUP

FIRST ROUND(January 12th): a) Wesley College v St Gerard's, at Greystones RFC; b) The High School v Naas CBS, at North Kildare RFC; c) Templeogue v CC Roscrea, at Kilkenny RFC; d) Mount Temple v The King's Hospital, at Malahide RFC.

SECOND ROUND(January 19th): e) Kilkenny College v St Patrick's, Navan, at Athy RFC; g) A v B, at Greystones RFC; h) C v D, at Barnhall RFC; f)St Conleth's v St Andrew's, at Wanderers RFC.