Garbally College...13 Marist College...7: Garbally College had to survive a tense finale in this Midlands derby against Marist College before claiming their 40th Connacht Junior Cup crown at Dubarry Park, Athlone yesterday.

In truth, a Marist win would have been unjust for Garbally looked the stronger side almost throughout the contest.

Playing with the aid of the strong wind in the first half, Garbally enjoyed almost unbroken territorial dominance. And a penalty from outhalf Robert O'Beirne combined with a superb individual try by winger Daniel Loughnane set them up for a half-time lead of 8-0.

Such a deficit appeared far from insurmountable and Marist would have approached the second half with a degree of optimism.

But Garbally got the game's decisive try early in the second half courtesy of O'Beirne.

Marist did grab the try their endeavour deserved with six minutes left when scrumhalf Adam Kennedy eventually touched down after the Athlone side had put the Garbally line under intense pressure.

Outhalf Brendan Kelly made no mistake with the conversion to bring his side within a converted try of victory, but Garbally held on in an exciting finish.

GARBALLY COLLEGE: N Dolan; D Loughnane, J O'Brien, P O'Toole, G Mooney; R O'Beirne, P Dillon; C Devlin, B Gibbons (capt), J J Carey, C Kenny, E Quinn, M McNamara, P Feehily, R Gilligan. Replacements: T English for C Kenny (injured), G Grenham for J J Carey, C Loughrey for P Dillon.

MARIST COLLEGE: V Clabby; R Evans, D Fallon, A Farrell, B Henshaw; B Kelly, A Kennedy; M McMenamin, D Burns, D Kelly, D Fagan, M Cullen, K Creavin, S Keegan, D Lennon (capt). Replacements: S Connell for D Kelly.

Referee: N Crowley (Connacht Branch).