Connacht Schools Cup:Favourites for this year's Connacht Tribune Senior Schools Cup, Coláiste Iognáid, can expect a tough challenge from new boys Calasanctius in next week's quarter-finals.
The Galway city school, already winners of this season's Connacht League, are seeking to continue their unbeaten run and take a 10th title.
First, however, they host a robust Calasanctius Oranmore at Merlin Park on Thursday in what is likely to be a closer game than the league semi-final, when "the Jes" won 20-3.
Both schools enjoy the luxury of having retained most of their players from last year. But the Jes have some nine Connacht players. A well balanced side - they hammered Rice College Westport 39-0 in the second round - they will be looking to their three-quarters to score, but their pack can expect a thorough testing.
Calasanctius pride themselves on forward strength and boast the Connacht schoolboy flanker Shane Connolly and the Ireland schoolboy prop Karl Egan.
Jes are nevertheless expected to have the all-round skills to see them off and join the winners of the Sligo derby.
Summerhill and Sligo Grammar meet for the first time in the cup on Wednesday. Summerhill, who usually play home fixtures at Sligo RFC, are hosting their first competitive match on their recently developed pitch.
Sligo Grammar have all the tradition; they have won eight senior titles, three in the last nine years, and were impressive in seeing off Portumna by 43-0 in the second round.
But with several under-16s after last year's turnover, they may be short on muscle, and Summerhill could view this as the chance to break through.
If any team can upset the Jes this year it could be Marist Athlone. They host Clifden Community School on Wednesday and look odds-on to progress to the semi-finals, where they would meet either the defending champions, Garbally, or St Joseph's Galway.
Beaten finalists last year, they are enjoying a new lease of life with players who have been together from under-13l. Powerful up front, fast behind the scrum, they are led by their efficient outhalf Adam Kennedy, who has starred in Connacht's youth XV this season. They should be too strong for Clifden, who will try to employ an offloading game suited to their mobile pack and three-quarters.
Champions Garbally must travel to Galway city to face St Joseph's at Dangan on Wednesday.
Both schools are going through transition. The "Bish" have a share of under-16 players, while Garbally have suffered from the closure of their boarding school and retain just three of last year's squad.
It should be a tight match.
Connacht Senior Cup - Quarter-finals
Wednesday, January 30th: (i) Marist College v Clifden Community School, Marist College, 2pm; (ii) Summerhill College v Sligo Grammar School, Summerhill, 2.30pm; (iii) St Joseph's College v Garbally College, venue TBC, 1.30pm. Thursday, January 31st: (iv) Coláiste Iognáid v Calasanctius College, Merlin Park 2pm. Semi-finals (week of February 18th) - (i) v (iii); (ii) v (iv). Final (Wednesday, March 5th) - Galway Sportsground.
Coláiste Iognáid, Galway
Coaches: Paul Kilraine, Colm Power, Dermot Murphy. Captain: Finn Gormley. Representative players: Shane O'Meara, Colin Conroy, Finn Gormley, Conor Murphy, Eoin Griffin, Eoin McKeon,
Kevin Russell, Shane Conneely (Connacht U18 schools); Fergus Moyles, Shane O'Connor, Evin Keane (Connacht U19).
Shane Conneely (Ireland Schools U18 training squad). Record: Nine titles.
Last season: Lost to Garbally 5-6 in quarter-final.
St Joseph's Galway
Coaches: Paul McCafferky, Ambrose Conboy, Tommy Ellard. Captain: Kris O'Shea. Representative players: Kris O'Shea and Paul Conway (Connacht U18). Record: 12 titles. Last season: Lost to Clifden Community School in quarter-final.
Sligo Grammar
Coach: James Gavin. Captain: Tadhg Power. Representative players: Tadhg Power and Chris Nairn (Connacht U17 Academy). Record: Eight titles. Last season: Beaten semi-finalists.
Summerhill, Sligo
Coach: Adrian Barrett. Captain: Conor Brady.Representative players: Rory Kerins, Aaran Spring (Connacht Youths U18), Aaron Spring, Niall Kenneally (Connacht Youths U16). Record: No titles. Last season: Lost to Marist in the first round (18-10); lost Shield final to Westport (8-3).
Marist College Athlone
Coaches: Mick Loftus, Ray Fagan. Captain: Adam Kennedy.Representative players: Adam Kennedy, Billy Henshaw, Darragh Kelly, Mark Dolan (Connacht Schools); Adam Kenney (Irish Youths),
Billy Henshaw (Connacht U20). Record: One title. Last season: Lost final to Garbally 25-18.
Clifden Community School
Coaches: Jimmy O'Toole, Des Fogarty. Captain: David McDonagh.Representative players: None. Record: One title. Last season: Lost semi-final to Garbally, 17-12.
Calasanctius Oranmore
Coaches: Seán Grealish, Martin McHugh. Captain: Gerard Fahy.Representative players: Shane Connolly, Karl Egan, David Hansberry (Connacht Youths); G Fahy (Connacht U17). Record: No titles. Last season: Have yet to reach semi-finals.
Garbally College, Ballinasloe
Coach: Frank Fahy. Captain: JJ Carey. Representative players: JJ Carey , Michael Cloonan (Connacht Schools).Record: 44 senior cup titles. Last season: Champions.
