Sport

Iognaid prove too strong

CONNACHT SCHOOLS' CUP SEMI-FINAL/ Sligo Grammar 6 Coláiste Iognaid 24 : COLÁISTE IOGNAID advanced to this year's Connacht Senior…

Linley MacKenzie
Tue Feb 26 2008 - 00:00

CONNACHT SCHOOLS' CUP SEMI-FINAL/ Sligo Grammar 6 Coláiste Iognaid 24: COLÁISTE IOGNAID advanced to this year's Connacht Senior Schools' final with a solid display over Sligo Grammar yesterday afternoon.

The strength and physical superiority of the Galway city side was too much for the lesser experienced Grammar to handle, particularly in the wet weather conditions and a muddy Grammar pitch.

The Jes ran in four tries while Sligo were restricted to just two first-half penalties.

Sligo looked a well-drilled outfit, secure in the set pieces and competent behind the scrum where outhalf Keith Farry and fullback Scott Oates produced assured kicking displays, particularly in the first half.

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However the Jes, with eight Connacht schools' representatives, were quick to capitalise on their superior strength, and the strong running of number eight Shane Conneely, centre Colin Conroy and captain Finn Gormley set up territory for the opening try. Lock Fergus Moyles claimed the lineout from a penalty kick and it was Conneely who claimed the touchdown from the resulting drive.

Sligo kept in touch with a 10th minute penalty from Farry, but the visitors added their second try eight minutes later when Conroy crashed over. Sligo responded with a Farry penalty just before the break to leave it at 10-6.

After flanker Aaran Conneely claimed try number three outhalf Daniel Clifford added the conversion to extend the lead to 17-6. Before the end the Jes added a fourth from Kevin Russell to ensure the Galway outfit will meet either their city neighbours St Joseph's or Marist Athlone - who meet today - in the final.

SLIGO GRAMMAR: S Oates; Goulden, C Nairn, A Corduff, D Butler; K Farry, J Halton; C McFadden, K Donoghue, A Galea, P Monahan, K Sheeran, E O'Donnell, T Callaghanm, T Power (capt). Replacements: R Torsney for Donoghue, F Hazleton for Callaghan, D McMullen for Goulden, P Carson for Galea, J Clarke for Monahan, S Mullaney for Butler, O Van de Grizi for Halton.

COLÁISTE IOGNAID: C Murphy; K Russell, C Conroy, E Griffin, F Gormley; D Clifford, S O'Meara; S Kelly, E Shaughnessy, N O'Maolain, K Dunne, F Moyles, E Keane, A Conneely, S Conneely. Replacements: T Flaherty for O'Meara, V Hurley for Russell, D Fahy for Conroy, N Crehan for Dunne, B Cunningham for Kelly, R Kennedy for Dunne, S Feeney for O'Maolain.

Referee: D O'Brien(Connacht)