By Richard O'Reilly
Kingspan Stadium hosts the first of two semi-finals on Monday afternoon with the second taking place on Tuesday.
R.B.A.I. take on Ballymena Academy in the first semi-final. Inst booked their place in the last four with a 10-3 win over Campbell College in the quarters, while Ballymena earned their spot by defeating Wallace High 21-17.
Thanks to @UlsterRugby players who visited the 2017 Danske Bank Schools' Cup semi-finalists during the week. https://t.co/tXIXeVxxbN pic.twitter.com/gJQwXmX1SJ
— Danske Bank (@DanskeBank_UK) February 26, 2017
Tomorrow then sees perennial finalists Methodist College take on Belfast Royal Academy. Methody reached the last four after edging out Royal School Armagh 28-24. Meanwhile B.R.A. earned a space in tomorrow's Belfast derby in bizarre circumstances. Their last-eight opponnents were unable to field a team, claiming 18 senior players were absent due to a school ski trip, giving B.R.A. a walkover.
RBAI and Ballymena Academy meet in the Danske Bank Ulster Schools' Cup semi-final today, 2.30pm at Kingspan Stadium. RT for a RBAI win! pic.twitter.com/jP4IXLAk8y
— Schools' Cup Rugby (@DBSchoolsCup) February 27, 2017
Meanwhile the competition for the MacRory Cup is heating up, with one finalist already decided, and a reply needed to ascertain the other.
St Colman's Newry reached their first final since 2011 following a 0-14 to 0-8 win over St Ronan's Lurgan. However, it is as yet undecided who'll be joining the Newry men at Casement Park on St Patrick' Day.
Danske Bank MacRory Cup 2017 St. Colman's v St. Ronan's Interview: https://t.co/knlkD7qKon via @YouTube
— UlsterSchoolsGAA (@ulsterschools) February 24, 2017
St Paul's Bessbrook and St ,Mary's Magherafelt have to do it all again following a 1-12 a-piece draw in their semi-final. St Paul's fought back from 5 points down with 9 minutes left to force a replay. They'll slug it out again in a replay this week.
Last and by no means least, the Danske Schools Football final will also be played on St Patrick's Day. Grosvenor have already earned their place in the final after sweeping aside RBAI 7-2 last week. Grosvenor's opponnents will be decided on Tuesday. St Columb's College take on Edmund Rice College for a chance to take on Grosvener
Q Radio will be across all three Danske Bank Ulster Schools Cup Finals as the official media partner.