‘The players will be making their own bit of history’

A St. Munchin’s College victory in tomorrow’s Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup decider would be the eighth occasion in the past 20 years that a school from the city has claimed the premier under-15 schools’ title.
Since 1989, Limerick sides have claimed the cup on seven occasions, with Cork sides PBC and CBC emerging as winners a total of 12 times.
Rockwell College managed to break the Cork/Limerick stranglehold on the cup 12 years ago in 1997.
Over the past two decades tomorrow’s finalists, St. Munchin’s College, have claimed the title on three occasions, 1989, 1993 and 1998.
Ardscoil Ris tasted Cup success in both 2003 and 2005 while Crescent College Comprehensive won the 1991 renewal when overcoming CBC in the decider. Relative newcomers Castletroy won the competition for the first time last year.
Meanwhile Thomond Park is set to host its first-ever schools’ game with the Avonmore Milk Munster Schools Junior Cup decider due to be staged at the 26,000-capacity stadium tomorrow.
Secretary of the Munster Schools’ Committee Greg Ashe said it would be a terrific honour for the Schools Junior Cup finalists to play their prestigious under-15 decider at the re-developed Thomond Park.
“It will be a great privilege for the two finalists to get the opportunity to play the Junior Cup decider at Thomond Park and we hope the weather holds up for them,” Greg Ashe said.
“They will always be the first teams to play a schools match at the new stadium. Whether they win or lose the players will be making their own bit of history.
“They may not realise it at this stage, but that is something they can feel proud telling their grandchildren about in the years to come.”

Colm Kinsella