St Flannan’s begin defence of Dean Ryan title

THE new Munster Colleges GAA season will get underway next week when the opening games in the race for the Dean Ryan title, (Junior A hurling), Corn an Chuinneanaigh (Junior B) and Corn Iognaid Rís (Junior C) will take place.
In the race for the Dean Ryan title, holders St Flannan’s will play De La Salle from Waterford in the opening round in Cashel at 1.30pm. St Flannan’s will be the only Clare school in the competition but Ard Scoil Rís, who play Gael Choláiste Mhuire in the opening round, are expected to include a number of Clare players in their line-up.
Three Clare schools are set to play in the B competition. St Anne’s, Killaloe will face Bandon, St Caimin’s will play Rochestown (this game will probably be on Monday) with the winners going through to play St Joseph’s, Tulla.
Three Clare schools are also scheduled to play in the C competition. Scariff Community College will play Pallaskenry, Rice College will face St Munchin’s, while Ennistymon CBS will face Hospital.

Harty Cup
ON Wednesday October 5, the opening games in the race for the Harty Cup will take place.
St Flannan’s will play Thurles CBS, while St Caimin’s will face Templemore. Title holders Ard Scoil begin the challenge for a third title in-a-row when they play De La Salle, Waterford. The Limerick school, who will again have a number of Clare players in their line-up, won the title for the first time in 2010 and retained the title last February.
Two Clare schools, St Joseph’s Tulla and St Anne’s, Killaloe will compete in the Senior B competition for Corn Phádraig. Tulla will take on Dungarvan while St Anne’s will be up against St Augustine’s.
In the Senior C hurling competition for Corn Mhic Ruairi, Scariff Community College and Rice College Ennis will take part. Scariff will play Newcastle West, while Rice College won’t be in action until October 10, when they will face either Mounthawk from Tralee or Carrig na bhFear.

Senior football
A WEEK after the senior hurling first rounds are played, the senior football competitions will begin.
This year, there will be two Clare schools in the Corn Uí Mhuirí (Senior A) competition. St Flannan’s will play Rochestown, while West Clare colleges will make their debut and their opponents will be Killorglin. Both Clare teams are in the same group and will meet in November.
St Caimin’s from Shannon will play for the Senior B title (Corn an Uachtaráin) and their first-round opponents are Mounthawk from Tralee.
Seven Clare schools will compete for the Senior C title (Corn an Runaí) and all are in Group 2. St Pat’s from Shannon will play Nenagh, Mary Immaculate Lisdoonvarna will face St Joseph’s Spanish Point, Ennistymon will play Newcastle West and Kilkee will face Pallaskenry. Rice College and Kilrush Community School have received first-round byes.