The Leinster Schools Senior Cup 2014 is just over two months away from beginning and the pre-cup ‘friendlies’ have been going weekly since September. The Leinster Schools Senior Cup Facebook page has compiled a preview of the 2014 edition of the competition.
Blackrock having won the competition in March are strong favourites to retain the trophy, with seven returning from the team that won the Senior Cup, they have had a very strong pre-season to date. Highlight wins include a 61-5 win over St Marys, a 29-19 win over Clongowes and 29-5 win over Terenure. The Blackrock side includes Leinster U18 Representative Jack Power and Leinster U19 Representative Nick Timoney.
St Michael’s have also had a good season to date with good wins over CBC Cork and Clongowes, 21-0 and 17-15 respectively. St Michael’s have eight representatives with Leinster including James Ryan and Adam Leavy, although 2014 may prove a year too early for this young team.
Clongowes on the other hand have had a respectable but below par pre-season to date recording two loses against St Michaels and Blackrock, although they had a good victory against Belvedere winning 22-13. The Clongowes side includes Fergal Cleary, a Leinster U19 and Ireland U18 representative.
Belvedere have a made good progress as well in pre-cup season, with good wins over Terenure and Castleknock 19-15 and 24-11 respectively but also playing out an impressive 12-12 draw with St Michaels. The Belvedere side includes Leinster U19 Representative James Doyle and Leinster U18 Representative Jack Hutchinson.
St Marys have also had a good pre-season recording a very impressive 29-7 win over Belvedere and also defeating Sligo Grammar 27-0 although they had a bad loss to pre-tournament favourites Blackrock, losing out 61-5.
Terenure have had a disappointing pre-season to date having lost to Belvedere and Blackrock 19-15 and 29-5 respectively. The Terenure side includes Leinster U19 Representative Tim Schmidt.
Newbridge are being considered as the dark horses of the 2014 competition, this is backed up with their squad who reached the semi-final and final of the Junior Cup in 2011 and 2012. Their league form has shown that the side is considerably good, picking up wins over Cistercian College, Roscrea 12-0, CBC Monkstown 24-7 and a massive 86-0 win over Presentation College Bray. The Newbridge side includes Leinster U18 Representative Jimmy O’Brien and Leinster U19 Representative Hugh O’Donnell.
Castleknock have also had a good league season topping their section, with wins over Gonzaga 22-5, Wesley 18-9 and Kings Hospital 18-3, however they recorded a 24-11 loss over Belvedere. The Castleknock side includes U18 Representative Sean O’Hare.
Cistercian College, Roscrea having reached the semi-final of the 2013 competition return back this time with a considerably less talented squad but their league results have not reflected this picking up victories against St Andrew 18-17, St Gerards 10-8 and CBC Monkstown 28-15. The Roscrea side includes Leinster U18 representatives Dan Lavelle and Tim Foley.
St Andrews having not qualified for the 2013 competition have had a good league run finishing third to automatically qualify for the 2014 competition. St Andrews have had many good results throughout the season so far, highlights include a 48-0 victory against Presentation Bray, a 22-22 draw against Newbridge and a 23-11 victory against CBC Monkstown. The St Andrews side includes Leinster U18 Representative Greg Jones.
The draw for the Leinster Schools Senior Cup is taking place on Monday the 9th of December 2013.
Remember to like Leinster Schools Senior Cup on Facebook and follow @LSSeniorCup on Twitter.
