Thomond Park will host decider

THE new-look 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 on Wednesday next, March 11. The historic game featuring a side from both Limerick and Cork is set to have a 3pm kick-off time.


The re-scheduled Junior Cup semi-final clash of Limerick city rivals St. Munchin’s College and Crescent College Comprehensive is set to take place this Friday, March 6 at Young Munster RFCs Tom Clifford Park grounds (4pm).
The winners’ of that tie are scheduled to face Cork opposition, either PBC or CBC, in next Wednesday’s decider at Thomond Park. PBC and CBC were due to replay their semi-final at CIT this Thursday afternoon.
Snow had forced the postponement of the semi-final meeting of St. Munchin’s College and Crescent College Comprehensive at Annacotty on Wednesday.
Both sides suffered opening round defeats to Cork opponents before taking full advantage of the ‘second chance’ system to advance to the last four stage of the Junior Cup.
Having lost narrowly, 10-12, to PBC in their first fixture, St. Munchin’s defeated holders Castletroy College 10-7 to advance to the semi-final.
Crescent College suffered a three-point defeat to CBC, 8-11, in their first outing, before eventually getting the better of a plucky Glenstal Abbey side, 5-3, in a replayed quarter-final round two clash at Dooradoyle at the end of last month.
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 U-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. 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 ahead.”

Colm Kinsella