Sligo Grammar seal third Connacht schools crown in-a-row 

SWEET SUCCESS: Sligo’s Dylan McCloat and Earl Norris lead the celebrations after the game. Pic: Ryan Byrne, Inpho

Connacht Senior Schools Cup final: Marist College, Athlone 18 Sligo Grammar School 29 

Sligo Grammar School have won their third title in consecutive years after a thrilling encounter against Marist College at Dexcom Stadium in Galway.

Both sides were deadlocked at half time with Marist coming out fast from the blocks in the second half to hit the lead. But Grammar grew into the game scoring three tries in the second half to secure their third title.

Sligo Grammer’s manager Jimmy Staunton felt their fitness was the difference in the end.

“Fitness told in the end because we did take the ball to them a fair bit and I thought we had probably overall more possession than even in the first half.

“Therefore coming towards the end of the game if we could keep our big ball carriers on the ball, I think their fitness was beginning to run out a little bit so we were actually making more ground whereas in the first half they were driving us back a little bit better.”

 After a nervous start from both sides, Marist got on the scoreboard first with a penalty from Charlie O’Connell.

Grammar responded and after a patient build-up with the forwards working the ball across Marist’s line, Dylan McCloat burrowed his way over with Mark Tempany converting to give Sligo Grammar a 7-3 lead.

The Athlone side got their first try after Liam McNamee Mas turned over the ball and broke the line to pass to the oncoming Gerard Murtagh to bring play to Grammarfive-meter's five metre line with the forwards working until Otega Awhinawhi found his way over the whitewash. O’Carroll added the conversion to take the lead 10-7.

Grammar leveled the score by working a penalty which Tempany slotted over leaving it 10 apiece at the break.

Marist started the second half quickly with O’Carroll stepping up to kick a penalty to take the lead 13-10.

Grammar responded with a team try from their own half which saw Gareth McGinty find Murtagh who passed to Quentin Mougthy to finish the score 13-15.

Grammer’s dominance and power at the maul saw was too much for the Athlone side. Their third try was a well-worked team fortfe with full back Liam McNamee Mas dotting down and Tempany converting. Their fourth came from full back Gareth McGinty crossed over with a Tempany conversion to lead 29-13.

Marist College added a consolation try when Rian Claffey crossed over but O’Connell missed the conversion.

Marish College coach Shane Broderick is proud of his side and believes that they are not too far from a Senior Cup title.

“We have plenty of success in the school, won a junior cup and getting to three of the last four finals, we are knocking on the door and eventually that door is going to break down and we will win a senior cup”

Scorers for Marist College: Tries: M Hunter, R Claffey Conversion: C O’Carroll (1) Penalties: C O’Carroll (2) 

Scorers for Sligo Grammer School: Tries: D McCloat, Q Moughty, L McNamee Mas, G McGinty Conversion: M Tempany (3) Penalties: M Tempany(1) 

MARIST COLLEGE: A Henson, L McCormack, T Cotton, T Sheehan, D Reid, J Clarke, C O’Carroll, K Blessing, E McMickan, J Heaslip, M Fallon, C Kelly, P Egan, O Awhinawhi, N Tallon (c) 

Replacements: M Molloy, M O’Sullivan, S O’Connor, K Byrne, T Bourke, R Claffey, C Naughton C Dowling, K Mahon, M Turner, S MacCarthy 

SLIGO GRAMMAR SCHOOL: G McGinty, D Holmes, G Murtagh, E Norris (CC), J Draper, M Tempany, J Kilcoyne, J Deegan, W Draper, A Platt, D McCloat (CC), L McNamee Mas, Q Moughty, M Hunter, D O’Connell 

Replacements: S Fallon, A Devine, I Marsden, K Mojekwu, B Bamber, A Ryan, B O’Connor, L Mavrak, A Lawlor, A Deegan, J Winters O’Donnell

Referee: C Roddy