Garbally, Ballinasloe, moved a step closer to winning the Connacht Schools' Senior Cup after they overcame St Saran's, Ferbane, in the semi-final at Garbally's grounds yesterday.

The winners went ahead after 14 minutes when left winger Niall Loughrey crossed for a try out on the left. Faolan Sweeney missed the conversion.

The visitors reduced the gap after 21 minutes through scrumhalf David Lowry's 35-metre penalty and they took the lead with a try after 30 minutes when left winger Trevor Guinan went over for a try in the right corner.

A neat drop-goal by the St Seran's outhalf Aidan Wynne two minutes into injury time of the first half gave the Ferbane students a 11-5 half-time lead.

Garbally reduced the gap nine minutes after the restart with a 22-metre penalty by Simon Leonard and he levelled matters after 52 minutes with his second penalty from the Ferbane 22.

The victors scored a vital try after 61 minutes when flanker Paul Callaghan crashed over on the right. Victory was sealed in injury time when Simon Leonard struck home his third penalty.

GARBALLY: C Lavelle; K Lyons J Campbell, S Leonard, N Loughrey; E Fenton, F Sweeney; D Donoghue, M Carroll, A O'Hara, M Beecher, I Cullinane, P Callaghan, T O'Brien (Capt), K McGovern.

ST SARAN'S, FERBANE: T Phelan; M Boland, A Keenaghan, T Gilligan, T Guinan; A Wynne, D Lowry; J Walsh, G Kelly, C Malone, T Moore, M Daly, S Keena, R Guinan, (Capt) K Lally. Replacement C Coughlan for S Keena 45 mins.

Referee: B McGrath (ARCB).