Football: LOUIS LOOK TO DEFEND THEIR TITLE; CARNEGIE SCHOOLS CUP LATEST.

ST Louis Grammar School have shown they are willing to battle hard to hold on to the Carnegie Schools Cup.

The Ballymena school are keen to retain the trophy and claim another prize trip to Leeds Metropolitan University, which will include a one week programme of sporting activities.

Third round opponents Regent House pushed them all the way and St Louis were fortunate to secure a 1-0 win in the replay two weeks ago, following a scoreless draw in the first match.

In earlier rounds, they had easy victories over Limavady Grammar (5-0) and Rathmore (4-1).

They entertain Carrick Grammar in this week's quarter-final tie and can expect another stern examination as the visitors have yet to concede a goal in the competition.

Belfast High School entered the competition for the first time this year and made an immediate impact with a 6-3 victory over Banbridge Academy.

They had to come from behind in the second round to see off East Down Institute 2-1, with Andy Hall notching the winner in extra-time.

A visit to Ashfield, the first winners of the Under-18 cup, seemed a daunting prospect but they reached the quarterfinals with an impressive 4-0 victory.

They travel to Magherafelt to play St Mary's, who eliminated last season's runners up Coleraine Institute (4-1), St Columb's (3-1) and Holy Cross Strabane (3-2).

St Peter's raised a few eyebrows with their 5-1 success away to Model.

They then disposed of St Brigid's 3-0 but won't relish the journey to Dungannon to face St Patrick's Academy.

The 2004 champions have been in sparkling form, accounting for Cambridge House 4-1, Portadown College 2-0 and St Gabriel's 6-2.

Two years ago St Mary's Grammar School lifted the Maxol Direct Senior Cup on their debut in the competition and they repeated the feat by collecting the Malcolm Brodie Senior Under-16 Cup last year.

The Glen Road school have entered the U-18 competition for the first time and began by thrashing Bangor Grammar 7-0.

Ciaran Caldwell was top scorer with four goals and was also on target as St Mary's came from 2-1 down to demolish Causeway Institute 8-2.

Caldwell maintained his record of scoring in every game in the 4-3 win away to Portora and he will be the main threat to neighbours CBS.

QUARTER FINALS (On or before Saturday February 2, 2008: CBS (Glen Road) v St Mar y's CBGS; St Louis (Ballymena) v Carrick Grammar; St Patrick's (Dungannon) v St Peter's (Londonderry); St Mary's (Magherafelt) v Belfast High School.