Sligo aiming for repeat of 2000

Rugby Connacht Senior Cup final: Evidence of the changing face of Connacht schools rugby is provided at Galway's Sportsground today (kick-off 2.30) when Sligo Grammar School play St Joseph's and St Saran's Secondary School in the Statoil Senior Cup final after emerging from a record 21 contenders.

What once would have been an unlikely pairing is actually a repeat of the 2000 decider.

A major force in the 1960s when winning the first four of their eight titles, Sligo are very much the resurgent force in Connacht schools rugby, having elbowed their way back among the established powers of Garbally College and St Joseph's College in recent years.

The nucleus of this side won the Junior Cup last year and, led by Connacht Schools captain Paul Gillespie (whose 16-year-old brother, Simon, is his half-back partner), they've had a relatively routine path to another final.

The current holders, Sligo are bidding to repeat their defence of the Cup in 2000 (they beat St Saran's 24-10) when seeking their fourth title in six years this afternoon.

By contrast, St Saran's are seeking a historic first title after reaching the finals in 1998 (losing to Garbally) and 2000. A co-ed school, with only 120 boys, in which Gaelic football is the main sport, the Offaly school is geographically in Leinster but has close links with Buccaneers.

They reached their third final after a thrilling first Senior Cup win over 43-times winners Garbally in the semi-finals by 10-8 thanks to an opportunist injury-time try by Trevor Phelan and a touchline conversion by outhalf Aidan Wynne.

Coach Ray O'Loughlin attributes this season's success to having five players on the Connacht Schools squad, a new weights programme and an expanded fixture list.

PATHS TO THE FINAL: Sligo Grammar: 2nd rd beat Presentation College Headford (64-3); q/f beat St Mary's College Ballygar (33-3); s/f beat Coláiste Iognáid Galway (23-10). St Saran's: 2nd rd beat St Muireadachs College Ballina (16-0); q/f beat Gort Community School (40-0); s/f beat Garbally College (10-8).

SLIGO GRAMMAR SCHOOL: Ross Butler; John Quinn, Clive Goulden, Stuart Doran, Brian Mullin; Paul Gillespie, Simon Gillespie; Ross O'Boyle, Barry Carson, Andrew Quinn, Kim Williams, Dara Quinn, Keith Richardson, John Bell, Jeffrey Dreaper. Replacements: Robert Wassan, Denis Ford, Simon Coulter, Brian McCabe, Marcus Moore, Finn Consadine, Dane Torsney.

ST JOSEPH'S & ST SARAN'S SECONDARY SCHOOL: Trevor Phelan; Gary Grehan, Aidan Keenaghan, Tom Gilligan (capt), Paul Heavin; Aidan Wynne, Padraig Shrahan; Julian Walshe, Gavin Kelly, Colin Malone, Joe Guinan, Stephen Rourke, Kevin Lally, Ciaran Coughlan, Liam Browne. Replacements: (from) Stephen Keena, James Rafferty, Trevor Guinan, Matthew Boland, Brian Gleeson, Aidan Egan, Rory Walshe, Conor Higgins.