Limerick Schools now know Harty Cup opponents as 2017/2018 draw is announced.

The five Limerick schools who will compete in the blue ribband event for secondary school hurling in Munster – the Harty Cup – now know their group opponents for next year’s edition of the famous competition with the groups being made public in the match program at yesterday’s Munster Hurling Final at Semple Stadium.

The 16 team tournament for Munster Post Primary Schools Senior A Hurling Championship comprises four groups of four teams with the a round robin group phase and the top two from each group making it through to the quarter finals.

Cork and Limerick have the most teams with five each with Tipperary having three, Waterford having two and just the one from Clare.

The groups are as follows:

Group A

Midleton CBS, Ardscoil Ris, De La Salle Waterford, Charleville CBS.

Group B

Our Ladys Templemore, St Flannans Ennis, CBC Cork, Castletroy College.

Group C

St Colmans Fermoy, Colaiste Iosaef Kilmallock, Blackwater Lismore, John the Baptist Community School Hospital

Group D

Nenagh CBS, Scoil na Troinoide Naofa Doon, Thurles CBS, Gaelcolaiste Mhuire Cork.

Interesting Groups for next season's Harty Cup. John the Baptist, Hospital & Colaiste Iosaf, Kilmallock in the same Group. Big local derby pic.twitter.com/VwKkXtx5VJ

— Matt O'Callaghan (@MattOCall) July 9, 2017

With 4 groups and five Limerick teams, there was a guarantee of one local derby in the group stages. That honour goes to local rivals John the Baptist Community School Hospital and Kilmallock’s Colaiste Iosaef who are drawn together in Group C.

John the Baptist make the step up to the Harty having won the B title last season in what was a truly remarkable year for the school with St Colmans College Fermoy and Waterford’s Blackwater of Lismore making up the other two places in the group.

Ardscoil Ris will renew their rivalry with Midleton CBS in Group A. The two met at the quarter final stage and it took a replay and extra time to separate the sides before the Cork side finally advanced. Charleville who were also drawn in Ardscoil’s group last year and De La Salle are the final two teams.

All Ireland Champions Our Lady’s Templemore will face Castletroy College with St Flannans College and CBC Cork also drawn in Group B.

In Group D, Scoil Na Trionoide face both Thurles and Nenagh CBS schools with Cork side Gaelcholáiste Mhuire AG also taking part.

Fixtures will be confirmed at a later date with the first round of games set to take place in mid-October.