Schools Cups 2014

[Donny B.]

Junior Cup Semi Final Draw
Blackrock vs Terenure

Belvedere vs St Michaels

[goreyguy]

Rock Blevo final probably, same as last year.

Although Michaels could get in there.

[goreyguy]

Rock Clongowes final more than likely..

best pack versus best backline

[johng]

Junior Cup draw continued... Clongowes V Belvedere Wednesday 26th KO 3pm, Blackrock V CUS, Date TBC #LeinsterSchools

Owtsch!

Piece of piss. No trouble to the lads.

Blackrock 53 - 0 C.U.S.

[Slipper1]

Owtsch!

Piece of piss. No trouble to the lads.

Blackrock 53 - 0 C.U.S.

Don't worry, we're just giving them a head start, plenty of time left.

[Slipper1]

Oh, its over.

We'll beat them at cricket.

[goreyguy]

Andrews Clongowes today at 4pm.

[Armchair]

Andrews Clongowes today at 4pm.

Would expect Clongowes to win by 15+ Andrew's have had a great season but Clongowes will have to much for them. Best of luck to both teams!

[goreyguy]

Andrews Clongowes today at 4pm.

Would expect Clongowes to win by 15+ Andrew's have had a great season but Clongowes will have to much for them. Best of luck to both teams!

agreed, clongowes have an excellent backline, andrews will have to win the battle up front and prevent clongowes from getting quick ball to have any chance of winning.

[Armchair]

Finished 27-12 to Clongowes

[goreyguy]

really impressed by Andrews #14, apparently only a 4th year too.

[Flash Gordon]

Andrews Clongowes today at 4pm.

Would expect Clongowes to win by 15+ Andrew's have had a great season but Clongowes will have to much for them. Best of luck to both teams!

Someone didn't read Andrews the script - they were winning at the half!! My God what a gutsy performance against a team that were considerably bigger size wise. The guts in that team were epitomised by the situation 5 minutes before the end with the game lost on the Andrews line. Player after player put their bodies on the line to stop wave after wave of Clongowes attacks - not only did they stop them scoring but they robbed the ball and went up the field and scored. Very impressed - you never want to leave anything on the pitch and that team certainly delivered.

The winger was phenomenal - Andrew Port again brilliant at Prop, he will join our production line and the locks were very impressive!

[goreyguy]

That winger is a 4th year, Jordan Larmour.
Porter was excellent alright.
Neither lock is tall enough currently to be much of a prospect. But seriously good performance by Jonny Guy.

[cormac]

cracking game so far, that Clongowes try was dubious though

[offshorerules]

68 SCT's is some record. Rocks captain Timoney looks like a very special player too.

[neiliog93]

Loughman has to be a prospect - a 116 kg prop at 17/18 years of age. The scary things are that a) He's not fat at all, like most heavy schools props and b) He's no particularly tall either, around 6 foot I would guess. Just an incredible amount of muscle mass packed into his frame. David O'Connor in the second-row was outstanding, very mobile for a big lad but looks to be about 6'4" or 6'5" - could that be an issue?

Power in the centre may well get an academy place too, he or the Clongowes' out-half Cleary were the most natural footballers on show in the game (the latter may well be in line for an academy/sub-academy place too).

This competition is an absolute Godsend for Leinster Rugby. I'd wager that it's only matched for schools' rugby quality in New Zealand or South Africa - as well-conditioned as teenage prospects are within professional youth set-ups in England, our top schools still generally beat them.

[ormond lad]

Loughman has to be a prospect - a 116 kg prop at 17/18 years of age. The scary things are that a) He's not fat at all, like most heavy schools props and b) He's no particularly tall either, around 6 foot I would guess. Just an incredible amount of muscle mass packed into his frame. David O'Connor in the second-row was outstanding, very mobile for a big lad but looks to be about 6'4" or 6'5" - could that be an issue?

Power in the centre may well get an academy place too, he or the Clongowes' out-half Cleary were the most natural footballers on show in the game (the latter may well be in line for an academy/sub-academy place too).

This competition is an absolute Godsend for Leinster Rugby. I'd wager that it's only matched for schools' rugby quality in New Zealand or South Africa - as well-conditioned as teenage prospects are within professional youth set-ups in England, our top schools still generally beat them.

I know I shouldn't but interesting of the 4 players you name check as being very talented 2 only moved to their respective school late enough and came to prominence as rugby players in the youths scene.

Great competition this year. Saw a good few sides in the meaningless pre Christmas/january friendlys and the leinster sides virtually always outclassed their Munster opponents.
Loughman is a monster of a young lad. Will be very hard to see anyone taking Irish 20s jersey off him for next season
If O Connor is only 6'4 it might be an issue for 2nd row prospects.
Think Cleary is a real talent. Wonder where his future lies. Is he a 10 or will he be a centre. Navan RFC will be really hoping he some how goes back playing with his home club next season when he's out of school but you can only really see him going to Dublin/Limerick/Cork clubs depending on his college choice.
Competition is great for Leinster pro side but more needs to be done to change attitudes around player retention in the sport once they leave secondary school. Player fall off way way too high

[goreyguy]

Loughman was stuck playing 8 when he was still playing youths, moving to blackrock was the best move he could make for his rugby career. He packed on the weight and became the physical beast he is while with blackrock. He is u19 now, so he is at least 18.

Power and Cleary will both probably end up going with the sub-academy next season and join UCD/Lansdowne.

O'Connor looks to me about 6'5, like his brother he may not be tall enough for Leinster. Good player though.

[the spoofer]

Who was the 13 for Rock and whats the story with him? He looked a class act as was Cleary.

The Clongowes 8 had that knack of gaining significant yardage post contact.

[goreyguy]

Who was the 13 for Rock and whats the story with him? He looked a class act as was Cleary.

The Clongowes 8 had that knack of gaining significant yardage post contact.

Jack Power, under-18. Played fullback for them last year and moved to 13 this year. With Leinster he has been playing fullback, fairly sure he is in 6th year.

He could be a surprise player to join the academy but more than likely will go sub-academy and join the year after imo.

Been impressed with him consistently since he emerged on the scene last year.

Stephen McVeigh played 8 for Clongowes, was involved with Leinster under-19 a bit last year.