Academy underdogs for semi-final clash

The Belfast school will be overwhelming favourites when the sides clash at Ravenhill, with a place in the showpiece St Patrick's Day final at stake.

Methody have cantered into the last four while Academy needed a last-gasp try to defeat unfancied Friends 11-10 in Saturday's quarter-final replay, after the sides had played out an 11-11 draw in their first meeting.

"I think most observers would have Methody down as big favourites to win the cup, never mind this semi-final," Andrews told Times Sport.

"They have an absolutely massive set of forwards and behind them, Paddy Jackson, a very talented Irish Schools out-half.

"We played them around November time and lost 30-10. It was a tight match for most of it but they ran away with it in the last 20 minutes.

"We're glad we were drawn in the Thursday semi-final because it would have been a huge turnaround to have played on the Saturday and be ready for the first semi-final today (Tuesday) but the other side of the coin is that we are battle-hardened and, having come through two tough tests, we certainly know how to fight for a result.

"In the same way that Friends weren't fancied to beat us, we know that many people won't fancy us to beat Methody but we feel we can beat them in a one-off situation like a semi-final.

"We would always count the season a success if we end up with a trip to Ravenhill, either in the Schools Cup or in one of the subsidiary competitions and anything beyond this semi-final will be a huge bonus for us.

"We didn't have great expectations for what is a very young squad, with a number of fifth years, but they have developed very well as a team," added John.

The coach will welcome back number eight Peter Wallace, who sustained an ankle knock in the first game against Friends, while Ollie Millar – grandson of Lions legend Syd – is also likely to be available for selection.

The second row forward has been sidelined with a partial tear of his cruciate ligament which is likely to require an operation in the summer but he has been given the all-clear by his surgeon to carry on playing in the meantime.

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