Bandon Grammar launched a stunning comeback to ward off a shock result at the hands of Sutton Park on the first day of the All-Ireland Schoolboys Championship in Limerick yesterday.
The 2005 champions and last year’s beaten semi-finalists found themselves 2-0 down after 18 minutes, but inspired by 15-year-old Darren Sweetnam, found their groove in the second half to post a 5-2 win.
They are now in the driving seat in Group C, where Wallace caused a minor upset by defeating Raphoe 3-2, and victory over the former this morning will give them one foot in the semi-finals.
Title-holders Cookstown High got their All-Ireland Schoolboys Championship campaign off to an emphatic start as they thumped tournament hosts Villiers 12-0 in Limerick yesterday.
With Leinster powerhouses St Andrews also winning handsomely — 4-0 at the expense of Kilkenny College — one of the pre-tournament favourites look set to fall by the wayside when they meet in their final Group A clash today.
Midleton College put up a sterling fight against RBAI, whose seven titles puts them top of the honour roll, but eventually went down 4-2, while Wesley College and Kilkeel shared 10 goals, with the Dubliners emerging 7-3 winners.
Meanwhile, Group D looks set to be a straight shoot-out between Ashton, who swatted aside Regent 4-0, and Banbridge, who beat High School 3-0.
The Cork school are looking for a return to the form which saw them take two titles in three years, in 1998 and 2000, with a side containing the likes of current Irish internationals David Hobbs and John Jermyn.
All-Ireland Schoolboys Championships, Limerick
Group A: Cookstown 12 Villiers 0; St Andrews 4 Kilkenny 0.
Tomorrow (Villiers): Kilkenny vs Cookstown (9am); Villiers vs St Andrews (10.30am); Villiers vs Kilkenny (1pm); Cookstown vs St Andrews (2.30pm).
Group B: Midleton 2 RBAI 4; Wesley 7 Kilkeel 3.
Tomorrow (UL): Kilkeel vs RBAI (9am); Wesley vs Midleton (10.30am); Midleton vs Kilkeel (1pm); RBAI vs Wesley (2.30pm).
Group C: Sutton 2 Bandon Grammar 5; Raphoe 2 Wallace 3.
Tomorrow (Rosbrien): Raphoe vs Sutton (9am); Bandon Grammar vs Wallace (10.30am); Wallace vs Sutton Park (1pm); Bandon vs Raphoe (2.30pm).
Group D: Regent 0 Ashton 4; Banbridge 3 High School 0.
Tomorrow (Crescent Comprehensive): Banbridge vs Regent (9am); Ashton vs High School (10.30am); High School vs Regent (1pm); Ashton vs Banbridge (2.30pm).
