Quins game can’t come quick enough as Fanning seeks revenge
by Daire Walsh
Leinster winger Darragh Fanning is desperate to exact revenge on Harlequins for Saturday’s European Rugby Champions Cup reversal when the sides meet again at the Aviva Stadium.
Speaking yesterday at Dublin’s College Green, where the draws for the upcoming Bank Of Ireland Leinster Schools Cups were conducted, Fanning was pleased to have something to pick him up following the disappointment of their 24-18 defeat to Conor O’Shea’s charges at the Twickenham Stoop.
“Yeah, I suppose it was nice to have something to pick us up, because it’s been a pretty dark 24 hours. You have to give it to Quins, they’re a great side. We knew going into it that they were a good side, but they played bloody well,” Fanning remarked yesterday.
Fanning was joined at the draw by provincial team-mates Cian Healy, Brendan Macken and Luke McGrath, and he revealed a second encounter in a week with the Aviva Premiership outfit is helping the squad to focus. “That was one of the reactions after the game. It’s not as if we’ve to wait two months and have a number of games in between. It’s this Saturday. We know what we have to do. We’re going to have that bit of edge now and hopefully we’ll bring that one Saturday.”
Fanning’s alma mater, St Mary’s College, were pitted against St Michael’s College (former school of McGrath) in the opening round of the Senior Cup. This promises to be one of the ties of the round, as will the clash between holders Blackrock and Terenure. Blackrock are aiming to secure a third senior triumph in succession, but are set to face stiff competition from Michael’s and last year’s beaten finalists Clongowes Wood, who start their campaign against a Vinnie Murray Cup qualifier.
The Rock’s Junior Cup side will also be hoping to finish the 2014/15 season with a third consecutive title, and will need to overcome five-time winners Clongowes if they are progress to the quarter-final. 2014 runners-up Belvedere play Gerard’s College, Bray.
Junior Schools Cup:
Belvedere College v St Gerard’s School
Fr Godfrey Qualifier 2 v St Michael’s College
Castleknock College v Fr Godfrey Qualifier 1
Terenure College v King’s Hospital
Cistercian College Roscrea v St Marys College
Gonzaga College v Newbridge College
Kilkenny College v Presentation College Bray
Clongowes Wood College v Blackrock College
Senior Schools Cup:
Wesley College v Cistercian College Roscrea
Kilkenny College v Newbridge College
Gonzaga College v Belvedere College
Vinnie Murray Qualifier 1 v St Andrews College
Clongowes Wood College v Vinnie Murray Qualifier 2
Terenure College v Blackrock College
St Michael’s College v St Mary’s College
CUS v CBC Monkstown