Midleton avoid big guns

Midleton College head into the All-Ireland Schoolboys Championship at Wesley College in Dublin later this month as Munster’s best hope of silverware, after the draw was made earlier today. The east Cork school, who ended a 20-year wait for Munster glory last year, have seen their top provincial seeding pay dividends – on paper at least – as they have avoided Leinster powerhouses Wesley and St Andrew’s. They have been drawn in Pool B with Ulster’s Cookstown and Methody, as well as Kilkenny College, and with the likes of Nick Burns and the Colton brothers still forming a strong backbone, they will be keen to put up a strong showing.

Munster’s second seeds Ashton will also be relatively pleased with their draw, though Banbridge Academy – with the likes of Josh Moffett in tow – look like the big threat here alongside RBAI and Sutton. Having lost the likes of Peter Catchpole and Nathan Gokul,  last year’s losing Munster finalists will now look to the likes of Richard Sweetnam and Ireland U16s Richard Lynch and Gary Wilkinson to anchor their challenge. Bandon Grammar have been left with something of a short straw; Wesley, who are defending champions and also claimed the John Waring Super Sixes last term as well as winning out in Leinster, are the headline act alongside tough northern outfits Campbell College and Sullivan Upper. Scott Sullivan will take on a senior role in the BGS side this term as Andrew Scannell departs, while Colin Kingston and Julian Dale are among the younger players looking to make a big impression ahead of the U16 interpros. All Ireland Schoolboys Championship, Wesley College Dublin, October 20-22 Pool A: Banbridge (Ulster), Ashton (Munster), RBAI (Ulster), Sutton (Leinster) Pool B: Cookstown (Ulster), Midleton College (Munster), Methoidst College Belfast (Ulster), Kilkenny College (Leinster) Pool C: Friends School (Ulster), St Andrew’s (Leinster), Wallace High (Ulster), Newpark Comprehensive (Leinster) Pool D: Campbell College (Ulster), Wesley College (Leinster, holders), Bandon Grammar (Munster), Sullivan Upper (Ulster) For more details and full list of fixtures, click here.