Marist College looking to stop Sligo Grammar three-in-a-row bid

Sligo Grammar are in search of three-in-a-row with Marist College hoping to spoil the party for their first title in 11 years.

Wed, 13 Mar, 2024 - 08:14

Fiona Halligan

Sligo Grammar School are looking to retain their title in the Connacht Schools Senior Cup final when they take on Marist College Athlone at Dexcom Stadium at 6pm.

Sligo are going for three-in-a-row while Marist College are hoping to bridge an 11-year gap since they last won the title.

They played Marist College in the league final in December and with both sides inseparable, finishing in a draw, today’s match doubles up as a winner-takes-all showdown with both the league and cup titles on the line.

The Sligo school overcame St Muredach’s College in the semi-final getting three tries in the first half but were kept scoreless in the second period by the Mayo side. Their first-half scores were enough to get them into a third successive final.

Sligo Grammar manager Jimmy Staunton believes his side’s first half against St Muredach’s was the best they played this season with some work-ons which were reviewed in preparation for the final.

“We were there or thereabouts, we could possibly have scored one or two more tries but it just didn’t happen.

“One or two errors, but we’ve worked and talked about that in the video review and hopefully we have learned from that,” he said.

As they prepare to face a familiar side in Marist College, Staunton knows that there is little between the sides.

‘We know each other," he continued. "They are two very, very good teams. We drew in the league before Christmas, there was nothing between the two sides.

“Both sides are full of interpros, there’s two or three international players on both teams that have played at Irish under 18 level and it should be a very, very good game.”

Marist College had a nail-biting finish to their semi-final. Down by one point in injury time Charlie O’Connell stepped up to clinch the winner from a penalty to reach consecutive finals.

The Athlone school have had a hectic lead-up to the final and managing players' recovery has been key for coach Shane Broderick.

“We have had four games in the last four weeks so it’s been a fairly hectic schedule," he says. "With January the weather was so bad a lot of games were pushed back we were quite worried about managing players and keeping injuries at bay.“

Marist know the challenge they face against the reigning champions but the pitch at Dexcom Stadium will suit their style of play.

“We are very different teams, we know each other very well. Grammar are more of a power team, they have bigger players, stronger players but we rely more on our skill and our speed. It’s a good wide open pitch, the playing surface is brilliant. So hopefully it suits are game and run more at them.”

Connacht Schools Senior Cup

Sligo Grammar School v Marist College Athlone, Dexcom Stadium, 6pm

Connacht Schools Junior Cup

Sligo Grammar School v Marist College Athlone, Dexcom Stadium, 3.30pm

Both games streamed live on connachtrugby.ie