Ashton and Midleton bid for cup glory

Midleton College and Ashton School will fight for the right to attempt to ruin Bandon Grammar’s double dreams as they lock horns in the Munster Senior Schoolboys Cup semi-final at the Cork city school tomorrow (2.30pm). BGS are already into the final after swatting aside Villiers 8-0 a fortnight ago, and are looking to emulate their girls side in taking the trophy. But with the cream of Munster’s schoolboy talent currently well spread around the schools, that is no foregone conclusion. The same can be said for this semi-final, though David Hobbs’ Ashton side will be slight favourites on paper, based on their semi-final appearance in the Irish Schools, though that was a long time ago now. Munster U18 representatives Peter Catchpole, Stuart O’Grady and Andrew Daunt have all seen first-team action for C of I this season and will spearhead the city school’s challenge, with Mark Holland offering a combative presence up front. At the time of writing, Ashton’s squad had nonetheless yet to be confirmed, though Midleton’s Ivan Leopold showed his hand earlier today. Nick Burns is his prized asset, though skipper Alistair Murphy and Greg Chambers have also been banging them in for club and school this term. Keeper Charlie O’Sullivan is capable of heroics between the sticks, while Colton brothers Andrew and Adam will also be a handful for Ashton. There is another carrott for tomorrow’s winners, as they will represent the province in the new John Waring Cup competition next week, alongside BGS. MIDLETON COLLEGE: Alistair Murphy (capt), Simon Casey, Ian White, Darragh Crosbie, Charlie O’Sullivan (GK),  Adam O’Callaghan, Nicholas Burns, Diarmuid Long, Andrew Power, Daniel James, David O’Sullivan, John Sweetnam, Andrew Colton, Adam Colton, Greg Chambers, Stuart O’Sullivan, Marc Hornibrook. ASHTON SCHOOL: TBC