Garbally withstand Grammar fight-back to land 48th title
Garbally College 14
Sligo Grammar 12
John O’Sullivan at The Sportsground
A herculean second-half defensive display saw Garbally College win their third straight Top Oil Connacht Schools Senior A Cup final with victory over Sligo Grammar in a ferocious battle at the Sportsground on Wednesday last.
Tries from centres John Devine and Conor Goode – exhibiting the attacking efficiency which was eventually the difference between the two sides – gave the Ballinasloe school a 14-0 lead at half-time, as they chased a record 48th Connacht Senior Schools cup win.
Sligo roared back in a rain-sodden second-half and scored two late tries of their own, a penalty try and a powerful touchdown from centre William Whelan. But it was too little too late, as Grammar, despite having the vast majority of the possession and territory in the second-half, couldn’t break through the brave and well-orchestrated Garbally defence on enough occasions.
Showing the incredible attacking threat that saw them blow Marist away 50-5 in the semi-final, Garbally registered their first try with the game scarcely seven minutes old.
A series of probing attacks saw the Ballinasloe school establish field position deep in the Sligo 22 and with their patient play sucking in the cover defence, there was a sizeable overlap on the right-hand side.
The ball was swept quickly to centre Devine, and he ran in unopposed for the game’s opening try. Out-half Cian Treacy made no mistake with the conversion and the Galway boys went 7-0 up.
Only last-ditch defending from Grammar’s winger Mark McGlynn stopped Garbally tacking on a second try with Shea Hennessy hurtling towards the line after being released through a gap by full-back, Adam Fogarty. The defending champions didn’t have to wait much longer for a score, however.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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