This contrasts sharply with Terenure's dogged if unimaginative progress. They have been passable.

CBC Monkstown (5-3) would have ended their season if they had more ideas on how to translate possession into points. No doubt, they will be much better as the underdogs than they were as favourites. Nure will have to turn back the tide in the tight through captain Niall McDonagh, hooker Risteard Byrne, second Robert Duke and number eight Ian Morley because out-half Terry Jones has the capacity to hurt defences.

Verdict Clongowes Wood

KILKENNY v ST MICHAEL'S Tuesday, Donnybrook, 3.00 St Michael's have shown the capacity to absorb pressure and points in their impressive march past St Gerard's and Belvedere to the last four. Their main weapon is the advantage of last season's run to the final so they have players with biggame experience in the pack.

However, injury doubts surround Paddy Mallon, John Daniels, Stephen Mahoney, Michael O'Malley and Paddy Brophy.

Kilkenny will be determined to cause their second shock following the 14-13 defeat of Blackrock last Monday. They will take some holding too. Hard-tackling centre Gary Rynhart, stretchered from the field with a bruised back last Monday, is a possible non-runner. Padraig Mahon is the most likely option in his place.

Verdict St Michael's

MUNSTER SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINALS CBC v ST MUNCHIN'S Tuesday, Temple Hill, 3.00 Champions St Munchin's had to withstand a ferocious comeback from Castletroy (13-11) to make it through to the semi-"nal and will need to keep CBC in check for 70 minutes or more on Tuesday.

Captain Liam �g Murphy will lead his Munster inter-provincial colleagues Diarmuid McMahon, Conor Murray, Darren Kavanagh and Michael McCarthy-Kelleher into battle with the focus on dominating up front.

Christians will look to the boot of Odhran Mulrooney to punish any indiscretions as he did in the 13-6 defeat of Glenstal Abbey in the previous round. Chris Nolan is a sniping number nine sure to test the holders around the fringes.

Verdict CBC

CRESCENT v PBC Wednesday, Dooradoyle, 3.00 Crescent's Ireland Schools out-half Andrew Burke is out of plaster, but also out of contention for a place in this semi-final. Munster Under-19 full-back Sean Scanlon will slot in at out-half and the recovered Richard Dennehy (twisted ankle) will vie for the number 15 jersey with 16-yearold Eoin O'Toole. PBC have no such worries. Scott Deasy is their main man and he didn't disappoint in the previous round, notching all the points in the 13-0 win over Rockwell College. Of course, Pres will have to show more variety to their attacking game to go the whole way. Michael Kenefick, Peter Kelleher, Brian O'Hara and Peter O'Mahony are Munster quality players that will need to draw on all their reserves to hold Crescent.

Verdict PBC

ULSTER SENIOR CUP SEMI-FINALS WALLACE v PORTORA ROYAL Tuesday, Ravenhill, 2.30 Portora played to their seeding by beating Foyle & Londonderry College 17-10 in the quarter-final with tries from prop Mark Hood and out-half Paul Galbraith, who orchestrating the game from the pivotal out-half position.

The Royal benefited from a strong pre-Cup campaign and they must be solid favourites to get the better of Wallace High School.

Ulster Schools under-19 tighthead and captain Gareth Beatty will lead a mobile forward eight that will look to get around the pitch in support of Galbraith, centre James Elliott and fine full-back Ashley Finlay.

Wallace High School blasted past Belfast Royal Academy 30-3 in the quarter-final last Saturday with tries from wing Nevin Spence, prop Chris Kidd, second row Philip Clarke and centre Scott Matthews and they are primed to make Portora sweat.

Verdict Portora Royal

RBAI vMETHODIST Thursday, Ravenhill, 2.30 Everyone knows the winner of this match will be unbackable to win the Cup outright and RBAI will go in as slight favourites on the basis of their domination of Ballymena Academy two rounds ago. Out-half Josh Pentland was flawless in his running and kicking against Campbell (25-8) last week. He jinked his way to two tries and kept a tight rein over their Belfast rivals. He will look to the likes of Mark Jones and Richard McNeely to provide a platform.

Champions Methodist brushed aside Royal Armagh 33-6 and they will depend on the power of forwards Matthew Elwood and Adam Macklin to set up the more cerebral dangers posed by Ulster Schools scrum-half Sam Bell and centre Conor O'Kane.

Verdict RBAI