COLLEGES GAA: The heavy artillery will be rolled out this week as the Leinster Colleges Senior Football Championship comes down to the last 16.
St Patrick's Classical School, Navan - All-Ireland winners in 2000 and 2001 - play host to Coláiste Mhuire, Mullingar, on Thursday.
St Patrick's, trained by Colm O'Rourke, picked up the North Leinster League title when they beat St Joseph's, Rochfortbridge 3-8 to 1-11 last week and they could meet St Mel's College at the semi-final stage in a re-run of last year's final.
"We would hope to be in the Leinster shake-up at the business end. It doesn't matter who we come up against as we have to face everybody to win it," said O'Rourke, who will be looking to Cian Ward and Ciarán Kenny to spearhead their challenge.
St Mel's have their own problems with a daunting trip to Dublin to face St Declan's, Cabra.
The all-Westmeath clash between St Joseph's and Moate CS on Thursday has an interesting sub-plot as former Westmeath manager Luke Dempsey pits his wits against the county's star player Dessie Dolan.
"I decided to keep them in the section A because of the profile it gives the players," said Dempsey, who is back training his native club, Leixlip. "We're at a disadvantage as we only have the pick of 350 boys, while schools like St Pat's, Navan, have almost 800."
David Glennon, brother of intercounty player Dennis, is expected to cause Moate plenty of headaches, as will Gavin Hoey. Goalkeeper Stephen Gallagher is in the under-21 county panel.
Another talented player on display this week is Donal Brennan, who lines out for Knockbeg against Good Counsel. Brennan was Laois' most potent attacker when they beat Dublin in the All-Ireland minor final replay last October.
In Munster, the Harty Cup enters the quarter-final stage this week with last year's beaten finalists St Flannan's facing De La Salle, Waterford - beaten semi-finalists last year - today. St Flannan's have eight of the side that were beaten in last year's final by St Colman's, Fermoy. They have five Clare minors in their line-up, while Shane O'Brien has lined out for Tipperary at underage level.
For the Waterford side, main scorer James Quirke hasn't fully recovered from an appendix operation. However, they still boost two other minors in Tommy Power and Kilkenny's Noel Delahunty. Trainer Derek McGrath won a Munster championship with the Waterford minors in 1992 and was also a senior panellist during the 1998 Munster winning campaign.
Three matches take place tomorrow with Doon CBS and Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh attempting to set up a semi-final date with the winners of St Flannan's and De La Salle.
St Colman's face last year's B champions St Joseph's, Borrisoleigh, in Clonmel and the victors will play Midleton CBS or Colaiste Na Deise, who play at Ardmore.
TODAY
Harty Cup: Quarter-final: St Flannan's v De La Salle Waterford, New Inn, 2.0.
TOMORROW
Leinster Colleges SFC A: Round Two (2.0): St Declan's CBS v St Mel's College, DCU; Good Counsel v Knockbeg College, New Ross; St Peter's College v Dundalk Schools, Athy; Patrician Newbridge v St Patrick's Cavan, Newbridge.
Harty Cup: Quarter-finals (2.0 unless stated): St Colman's Fermoy v St Joseph's Borrisoleigh, Clonmel; Doon CBS v Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh Bishopstown, Michelstown; Coláiste Na Deise v Midleton CBS, Ardmore (1.15).
THURSDAY
Leinster Colleges SFC A: Round Two (2.0): St Patrick's Navan v Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar, Navan; St Joseph's Rochfortbridge v Moate CBS, Rochfortbridge.
FRIDAY
Leinster Colleges SFC A: Round Two: Moyne CS v Coláiste Eoin, Dromard, 2.0.
