Garbally hang on to what they hold

TRADITIONAL superiority was asserted yet again in the Connacht Senior Cup final replay at the Sports Ground, Galway yesterday. St Joseph's, Garbally, as so often through the years, produced the goods when it mattered and defeated Sligo Grammar School.

The cup goes back to the Ballinasloe college for the third successive year and for the 41st time. But it was by no means a win achieved without considerable anxiety. Resolute defence was needed to subdue the spirited challenge presented by the Sligo boys in a match played in good conditions and one that was worthy of the occasion.

One left the scene with considerable sympathy for Sligo, who had earned a replay by staging a great comeback a fortnight ago. They trailed by 12-0 at the interval, having played against the wind in the first half. This time, while they reduced the deficit to just four points with 11 minutes to go, they could not make the crucial breakthrough for the try that would have given them the title for the first time in 17 years.

Garbally were the better and more controlled team in the first half, but in the early stages failed to make their superiority pay. Out half Alan King missed two penalty chances and was wide with a dropped goal attempt.

They were superior in the line out where Kenneth Conneely was their most prolific ball winner. They had in scrum half Kieran Dolan an accomplished player in a key area and he and King formed a useful half back pairing. Both boys made some timely clearances when their side was under pressure, as was often the case in the second period.

More composed and authoritative in the rucks, Garbally made their superiority pay in the 21st minute when their industrious flanker Ivan Kelly broke free and made the crucial ground that enabled Judd Ruane to score a try. King converted.

But Sligo, for whom Phelim O'Connor and Derek Fletcher worked assiduously up front, held Garbally out until just before the interval. Garbally won a line out and drove forward, Dolan made it pay by getting in on the blind side for what proved to be a crucial score that enabled the holders to face the second half with a 12 point lead.

As events transpired, they needed it. With the wind at their backs, Sligo set about reducing the arrears with immense dedication and purpose, However, over anxiety on occasions saw hard earned ground yielded by the concession of penalties. They were very unfortunate not to have been rewarded after six minutes of sustained pressure on the Garbally line in the early stages of the half. Garbally, to their credit, defended with courage and effect.

Sligo did eat into their deficit after 18 minutes of the second half when scrum half David Morris - and no one worked harder in his team's cause - kicked a penalty. Then a great run down the left by Mark Moskau almost yielded Sligo a try. Once more, however, Garbally cleared the danger.

With King and Dolan kicking shrewdly out of defence, Garbally worked their way into Sligo territory. But a long clearance into the Garbally half was kicked on by Senan O'Rourke with Trevor Henry in pursuit. With Garbally scrambling to get back to cover, Henry kicked over the line and touched down in the right corner. Morris was only inches wide with the conversion attempt.

That score set the scene for a grandstand finish from Sligo. But Garbally did not yield and dealt with the attempts to break them down. The Sligo efforts were never less than full hearted. Garbally held on for a win that was just about deserved.