Holders Sligo failed to retain the Connacht Junior Cup title for another season when they were defeated by Connemara at the Galway Sportsground yesterday.

This was Connemara's second time to win the competition since their foundation and success capped a great season for them as they had won the provincial Junior League title last weekend.

Connemara started promisingly and on four minutes their full back Henry O'Toole had a penalty attempt from the Sligo 22 which fell short. However, he made scoring amends six minutes later.

Scrumhalf David Keogh set up O'Toole for a try on the right, following a neat move which involved both of them. On 14 minutes Connemara went 8-0 ahead with a successful penalty struck by outhalf Mark Foyle from the Sligo 10-metre line which proved the last score of the first half.

Connemara went further ahead at the start of the fourth quarter when Foyle kicked his second penalty from the Sligo 22. The last score of the game arrived in the 74th minute when the highly experienced O'Toole kicked ahead and then followed up to touch down for a try on the left to seal victory for Connemara.

Sligo: B McCann; O Grennan, C Culhane, K Harte, J Sweeney; G Foley (capt), R Watters; J Kelly, S Hunter, F Filan; I Lewis, B Lyons; A Ryan, E Brett, K Dreaper. Replacements: M Kitson for Brett (inj - 14 mins); D Roberts for Kelly (inj - 32 mins); G Boland for B McCann (40 mins); B Roche for Ryan (inj - 57 mins); D Saunders for Roberts (63 mins); J Garvey for Harte (72 mins).

Connemara: H O'Toole; P J Burke, P O'Toole (capt), P O'Neill, T Burke; M Foyle, D Keogh; F Wood, T King, G King; G Burke, F Madden; K Keogh, P Davin, B Keaney. Replacements: M Walsh for P J Burke (68 mins); K Ward for T King (76 mins); B Mullen for Davin (76 mins); A Keogh for T Burke (77 mins); O Delapp for O'Neill (78 mins); K McHugh for Madden (79 mins).

Referee: B Gillard (ARCB)