Tralee CBS v Rochestown College (Douglas) Wednesday, January 25

in Lewis Road at 1.30pm

FOR perennial contenders at this level not a huge amount was expected for Tralee CBS in this 2011/12 Corn Uí Mhuirí campaign. Not because Fergus Clifford didn't have quality at his disposal, but simply because the panel at his disposal was so young.

The majority of this Corn Uí Mhuirí panel is made up of the panel, which won last year's Frewen Cup (the Munster colleges Under 16 and-a-half championship). So the pedigree is there. There's also plenty of battle in this squad. After their first game of the competition went badly – they lost out to Highschool Clonmel on a scoreline of 2-9 to 0-11 with a weakened team – they were really up against it to qualify for the knockout stages.

They really dug deep, however, on a trip to Annascaul when they faced fellow Kerry outfit Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne with their future in the competition on the line. At one stage they trailed their opponents by five points in the first half, but by the break they trailed by just one with a Danny Carroll goal bringing the Green back into it.

They showed character in coming back like that and even greater character in the second half when Conor Jordan bagged their second goal to ensure their participation in the quarter-finals. It's the type of character that they're going to need in today's [ Wednesday] game with Rochestown.

Don't be fooled into thinking that because this is their first senior Munster campaign in almost half a century that they're in some way a so f t touch. Just consider for a moment how they fared against Intermediate School Killorglin. They hammered them, defeating them by ten points – 1-13 to 0-5.

Then consider how they fared against St Flannans. They defeated the Ennis kingpins 2-10 to 1-12. Not as comprehensive a victory, but impressive none the less. They won it at the last, with a penalty by their star man Gary Hartnett proving that just like the Green they can dig deep when they have to.

By all accounts they've got quality all over the pitch. At the back defenders Alan O'donovan (centre-back) and David Heaney have been outstanding, while at midfield Jack Sommers and Shane Mcdonald have shown the ability to lord matters when required.

Up front they're no picnic either for opposing defences. Eamon Mooney is a quality half-forward, Kevin Hodgins at centreforward has been at the centre of a lot of their best work this term, while in the full-forward line guys like Aaorn Ward, Cathal Cormac and Graham Sheehan have time and again demonstrated that they know exactly where the posts are.

Tralee CBS are no slouches in front of the sticks either, however. We've already mentioned the goal getting ability of Conor Jordan and Danny Carroll, but the real driving force of this Green team is the half-forward line where Niall Sheehan and Jack Savage (their free taker) take charge of matters.

Grey Horan was the star of the Green's Frewen Cup triumph last year and against a quality midfield like Rochestwon possess will be called upon again to give a big display, as indeed will defenders like Tom Mcloughlin (another star of their Frewen Cup triumph).

Given the Green's pedigree at this level the odds on them advancing must be high and their performance against Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne suggests they have what it takes, but background music coming from Rochestown College suggests they could go all the way this term.

Verdict: Rochestown

- Damian Stack