They are a well-balanced, hard working side from one to 15 with number eight Trevor Conneely, hooker Tony Burns and centres Tom Fletcher and Shane Kennedy showing up well in the 27-3 hammering of High School.

St Mary's were disappointed, to say the least, at their display against CUS (24-12) and they will bring in tight-head Jack McGrath and right wing Darren Hudson to inject enthusiasm and quality.

Captain and wing forward Shane Timmons, number eight David Wilson and centre Ray Crotty will be asked to raise the level of their performances to stay with Clongowes.

BLACKROCK COLLEGE v KILKENNY COLLEGE Blackrock needed the aid of two dubious refereeing decisions to squeeze past Gonzaga 6-3 in the first round.

It goes without saying that they will improve round-by-round ahead of Wednesday's clash with Kilkenny at Donnybrook.

They have plenty of size and muscle in the forward pack. The import of massive second row Eoin Sheriff from Gorey Community College has given them a strong line-out option and former Pres Bray ball-carrier Jason Harris-Wright has given them strength going forward.

Kilkenny required a last-minute try to see off Roscrea 11-7 last time out. They have a robust set of forwards that are fired up by a Leinster duo in loose-head Kieran McArdle and second row Wesley Carter. They have no injury concerns. The threequarters restricted Roscrea to one try and their main threat in the backs will come from the strike running of provincial full-back Nevil Copeland.

CBC MONKSTOWN v TERENURE COLLEGE Terenure College will have to make a better start against CBC Monkstown at Templeville Road on Wednesday than they did when slipping behind early on before mastering Castleknock 24-18 on their first day out.

Back-row Gavan Costelloe will be in the frame for inclusion. Captain Niall McDonagh and centre Paul Elliott are two central figures that must make sure that their side doesn't start as badly as they did against Castleknock.

CBC will wait on the fitness of hooker David Lewis, who retired during the 10-3 defeat of Templeogue College in the first round. Killian Verso is on standby.

Leinster second-row Shane Grannell and their number eight Michael Noone will be expected to lead the fight to 'Nure in a no-nonsense pack and Gary Foley is a force in the centre.

CONNACHT TRIBUNE SCHOOLS SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINALS GARBALLY COLLEGE v CLIFDEN CS Hot favourites Garbally got out of their quarter-final against Coláiste Iognáid by the skin of their teeth 65. They will have home advantage over Clifden in Ballinasloe on Wednesday.

Irish Youths and Galway minor footballer John O'Brien, at outside centre, is an all-round talent and their main source of inspiration. Fellow midfielder Niall Dolan has been ruled out with torn shoulder ligaments.

Clifden showed considerable character to recover from the loss of their captain Dave Mullen in the second minute of their quarter-final against St Joseph's College on the way to a 2016 win.

Mullen will be fit for Wednesday's semi-final, but second-row Jason Ridge is out with a damaged shoulder.

He will be replaced by Shane Corbett.

The Connemara boys will look to their excellent half-backs Eoin Burke and Sean Joyce to cause a shock.

GALLEN CS vMARIST COLLEGE Gallen will hope to have hard-working second-row Lorcan Walsh back from an ankle injury for their semifinal at home to Marist College.

It should compensate for the likely loss of prop Martin Larkin to ankle ligament damage. Craig Leavy should come into a forward pack that will look to give out-half Donal Corbett the same platform he took advantage of in the 13-5 defeat of Sligo Grammar.

Marist coach Mick Loftus kept his fingers crossed that Adam Kennedy came though unscathed for the Irish Youths yesterday. His out-half scored two penalties and two drop goals in the 17-3 drumming of St Calasanctius College.

The Thompson brothers, Gavin and Trevor, are two good props and they will form a strong front row with hooker David Burns in a pack that trades on aggression and intelligence.