I like the way the edition of the Irish Independent pictured on the wall chart mentions fee-paying schools in its headline, feeder schools on the blurb, and Cian Healy on the sports supplement headline.
I notched that as well, brilliant work by them. The feeder list to college is another highlight of the year.
Shocking bias against the regional schools with that draw
I never liked it, pal. But the Leinster Schools Cup is about far more than rugby football.
It’s like the LOINS tour in that regard. Or how the RYDER CUP or the OPEN aren’t simply about golf. They’re quite simply about humanity and our attempts to scale adversity, be it internal or external.
Tony with another fantastic preview
CBC, MONKSTOWN
Remember '76. That is the call to arms for all who wear the red, black and gold with such pride. The name Michael ‘Skinner’ Mullen is synonymous with inspiring Christians to greatness and, much like Fr Michael ‘Mocky’ Sheil at Clongowes, it was the former Belvedere Junior and Senior Cup captain who laid the foundation for the force that is the Monkstown school today.
Despite qualifying for the quarter final of the league (losing to St Andrew’s) it was by their own admission a disappointing campaign in which a potentially very talented group underachieved. The draw has thrown up a very real on-the-day either/or clash with St Gerard’s with the prize for the winner a precious place in the last eight.
Scrum-half Rob Jordan (above) is captain of a squad including ten back from last year’s group beaten by eventual runners-up Belvedere in the quarter-final. That is the bottom-line objective this time around and then see where the rolling draw takes them from there.
Press former coach and teacher Mullen on what it was that turned that group of '76 into potential cup winners and immediately he will highlight “athletic involvement” (something I know Blackrock and Belvedere will echo to the full). Back then Jurgen Whyte was All Ireland Triple Jump champion with a whole host of track and field SCT athletes on board as well.
Forty years on since Declan Murphy lifted that trophy and it is prop Eoghan Clarke leading the dual way. The shot putt representative was, along with Jordan, the stand-out performer in last year’s cup run and eventually made the Team of the Tournament for 2015. Already this year, alongside hugely influential back-rower William Fay and talented three-quarter Thomas O’Callaghan, he has represented the Leinster under-18s while the equally promising Jordan has made his mark with the province’s under-19 side.
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No preview in the Irish Times this year, an absolute disgrace, the paper pf record has gone to the dogs.
Did you check the business pages ?
@tallback incredible scenes from Donnybrook, a last minute kick sends Christians through. Scenes of joy around Monkstown this afternoon
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Was this v’s St Gerards?
It was.
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Poor enough I believe but a wins a win, it’s our year.
Unintentionally hilarious article by that Gavin Cummiskey turnip:
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Hilarious stuff alright. Not tongue in cheek at all either but Gavin would always have been a boot licker in school.
Why 3 of them repeated their Leaving Cert to play again is beyond me. Sir Anthony started the trend (albeit he just read philosophy or something in his repeat year) but that was when he lost a Cup.
“In the summer of 1995 Gibney led most of them unbeaten through Australia on a Leinster Schools tour. That September he returned, along with fellow forwards Keith Murphy and Peter Smyth, for another crack at the Leaving Cert and glory on St Patrick’s Day.”
It takes away from that team a bit that 3 were repeats.
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There’s surely a book to be written about that tour. The bantz must have been on a global scale of epicness.
Another oral history like Gav’s epic above
You should tweet that.
That first paragraph is outstanding, it couldnt get better could it? Should I keep reading?
Nevermind, this is fucking gold
I know some if not all are a result of playing a high level of rugby from the age of 12 until 21.
Bob Casey’s description as a north Kildare hurler is a bit funny
Yer man realising the boys were special at a half time mini rugby game 