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Colaiste Iognaid look destined for back-to-back success

Connacht Senior Cup Final Coláiste Iognáid will be hoping to make it back-to-back titles for the first time in over 80 years…

Thu Mar 16 2006 - 00:00

Connacht Senior Cup FinalColáiste Iognáid will be hoping to make it back-to-back titles for the first time in over 80 years when they take on Sligo Grammar in the final at the Sportsground today.

The Galway city school will be eyeing another historic double: they also contest the Junior Cup final, where they take on Garbally College, Ballinasloe.

Coláiste Iognáid, the alma mater of the former Ireland outhalf Eric Elwood, have won six Connacht Senior Cups, including the 1985 version, when Elwood led the way.

And with the bulk of the squad that defeated Sligo Grammar in the final last year, they have been red-hot favourites all season.

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They lived up to the form-guide in the early rounds, defeating Calasanctius College Oranmore 20-0 and Portumna College 52-0.

In the semi-final they met Garbally College, who have been the most successful school in the competition, with 43 titles, but who are without a title since 2001.

A try from their impressive number eight Hugh O'Donnellan clinched an 11-9 victory, the boot of outhalf Ross Shaughnessy also proving a big factor in the Galway city school's win.

Pádraig Cuddy, battling to recover from an ankle injury, will if fit provide a cutting edge behind the scrum along with captain Robert Hurley, while up front O'Donnellan and flanker Gavin Hartigan will lead the way.

Sligo Grammar, winners of eight titles, will be bidding not only to avenge last year's 16-3 loss to The Jes but also to avoid a third successive final defeat.

They beat Marist College Athlone 10-5 in the first round and then St Muredach's Ballina 25-0.

In the semi-final they were pushed all the way when beating Clifden Community School 16-12.

They will look for inspiration to the midfield pair of Phillip Hunt and Ross Butler but may have to give best to the favourites.

COLÁISTE IOGNÁID: E Farragher; C Connolly, C Moyler, R Hurley (capt), P Cuddy; R Shaughnessy, H Griffin; A Collins, M Nolan, C Ryan; J Browne, E Keane; G Hartigan, D Murphy, H O'Donnellan. Replacements: S Ó Máille, M Purcell, R de Faoite, S Hunt, D O'Meara, S Gormley, A Madec.

SLIGO GRAMMAR SCHOOL: C O'Grady; D Tansey, P Hunt, R Butler, D Torsney; S Gillespie, S Sheridan; J East, R O'Boyle, P Allen; R Forrester, A Parsons; P Ryder, J Draper (capt), R Wasson. Replacements: (from) O Torsney, B Percival, E Keane, M Molloy, C McCann, F Downey, N Canning, K Farry, J Higgins, R Taylor, H Gould.