Updated at 20.15

LEINSTER SENIOR SCHOOLS Cup champions Belvedere will open the defence of their crown against Gonzaga College when the 2018 competition gets underway in January.

Belvedere captain Max Kearney lifts the LSSC last March. Colm O'Neill / INPHO Colm O'Neill / INPHO / INPHO

Dan Leavy and Stuart Lancaster were on hand this evening to make the draw for the first round ties at the Bank of Ireland branch in Grand Canal Dock.

Belvo’s quest for three consecutive titles will face a stiff opening test against Gonzaga, who enjoyed an impressive run to the semi-finals in 2017 before falling to Blackrock College.

The 68-time winners will begin their campaign against Castleknock College while the meeting of Terenure College and St Michael’s College promises to be one of the ties of the round.

The first round ties of the Senior Cup will begin on Sunday 28 January.

In the Junior Cup, the standout tie of the first round sees defending champions St Michael’s College face beaten finalists Blackrock College, while Templecarrick, winners of the 2017 Fr Godrey Cup, will take on Clongowes Wood.

Senior Cup first round draw:

• Belvedere College v Gonzaga College
• Terenure College v St Michael’s College
• Vinnie Murray qualifier 2 v Roscrea
• St Fintan’s High School v St Gerard’s
• Blackrock College v Castleknock College
• Newbridge College v Presentation College Bray
• Clongowes Wood College v Vinnie Murray qualifier 1
• St Mary’s College v St Andrew’s College

Vinnie Murray Cup first round draw:

• CUS v Dundalk Grammar/Ardee Community School
• Gorey Community School v The King’s Hospital
• The High School v Mount Temple
• Salesian College v Skerries Community College
• Wilson’s Hospital v CBC Monkstown
• St Patrick’s Classical School, Navan v Wesley College
• Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew/St Columba’s v Kilkenny College
• Newpark (bye)

Junior Cup first round draw:

• Cistercian College, Roscrea v Terenure College
• Fr Godfrey Cup Qualifier 2 v St Gerard’s
• Gonzaga College v Castleknock College
• St Michael’s College v Blackrock College
• Clongowes Wood College v Temple Carrig
• CUS v Belvedere College
• Newbridge College v St Mary’s College
• CBC Monkstown v Fr Godfrey Qualifier 1

Fr Godrey Cup first round draw:

• Gormanston College v Wilson’s Hospital School
• Salesian College/Dundalk Grammar v Mount Temple School
• St Andrew’s College v Kilkenny College
• St Patrick’s Classical School, Navan v Gorey Community School
• Wesley College v The High School
• St Mary’s, Enniscorthy v The King’s Hospital
• Presentation College, Bray v Scoil Chonglais

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