Powerful Sligo finish with a flourish

CONNACHT SCHOOLS' CUP: Garbally College, Ballinasloe 8 Sligo Grammar School 38  A PROMISING Sligo Grammar School outfit advanced to the Connacht Schools' Cup final following this stylish victory over Garbally College, Ballinasloe.

Playing a tidy brand of rugby with the emphasis on keeping the ball in hand, Grammar were too forceful for a gutsy Garbally.

Grammar played against the strong breeze in the opening period, but it scarcely mattered, such was the excellence of number eight Aaron Spring who notched a brace of tries.

David Butler also crossed for a dominant Grammar, who trotted off at the break armed with a sizeable 17-3 advantage.

There was plenty to admire in Garbally’s enthusiasm after the interval, but a Stephen Mullaney try which was converted by Scott Oakes, extended Grammar’ School’s lead.

Garbally summoned a burst of pressure which culminated in an Aaron Feehily try.

However, Grammar finished with a flourish as replacement Shane Creamer and Butler sealed the win with late tries to set up an interesting March 11th decider with the holders, Coláiste Iognáid.

Scorers:Garbally College – A Feehily try, pen. Sligo Grammar School – D Butler 2 tries, A Spring 2 tries, S Mullaney try, S Creamer try, S Oakes 2 cons, P Hughes 2 cons.

GARBALLY COLLEGE:D Burke; S Kenny, C Gormley, J Claffey, A Feehily, R Kelliher, C Johnson; E Friel, D Freeman, A Moloney, T Freeman, E Clogher, A Loughrey, J Brooks, M Cloonan. Replacements: N Dillon for Clogher (33 mins), C Loughrey for Johnson (36 mins), N Byrne for Kenny (45 mins), J Curley for Friel (60 mins), J Walsh for Gormley (68 mins).

SLIGO GRAMMAR SCHOOL:S Oakes; J Healy, D Butler, S Butler, P Hazelton, P Hughes, O van der Grijn; T Ferrari, G McConnell, P Carson, J Clarke, S Mullaney, E O'Donnell, T Callaghan, A Spring. Replacements: J Gill for Carson (36 mins), A Corduff for O'Donnell (36 mins), C Nairn for S Butler (57 mins), D Heath for Mullaney (59 mins), C Brady for Ferrari (59 mins), S Creamer for Healy (60 mins), P Laffey for Hazelton (66 mins).

Referee:Noel Crowley (Connacht Branch).