COLÁISTE IOGNÁID 19 GARBALLY COLLEGE 0:COLÁISTE IOGNÁID cantered into the semi-final with a comfortable victory at Newcastle, Galway, yesterday, writes Linley MacKenzie.

The sides met at the same stage last year when Garbally, the most successful school in the competition, made The Jes work hard for a 9-3 win, but yesterday, despite a battling performance, their only opportunity to score came in the fourth minute when outhalf Ross Keller’s penalty dropped short.

Despite enjoying their fair share of possession, their failure to retain the ball through the phases proved their downfall, and by half-time they had allowed The Jes to open up a 12-0 lead.

The first try came from hard-running centre Bryan Dickson, who broke from the 22, with right wing Robert Butler adding the extras for a 7-0 lead.

They soon claimed their second from a counter-attack deep in their half when number eight Conor Murphy made the hard yards before Butler supplied left- wing Sam Knight who dotted down in the right corner.

Although The Jes had a man sent to the bin, they added a third try from Jordan Healy in the 52nd minute, which Butler converted.

COLÁISTE IOGNÁID:N Murphy; R Butler, F Bourne, B Dickson, S Knight; D Cunnane, P Power; D Wilkinson, R Murray, R Brennan, J Healy, J O'Donnell, M Burke, J Kennedy, C Murphy. Replacements: R Browne for Knight (52), J Divilly for Burke (68), Patrick Kelehan for Butler (69). Sinbin: Brennan (42).

ST JOSEPH'S COLLEGE, GARBALLY:M Tiernan; C Clougher, D Freeman, K O'Neill, C Loughney; R Keller, D Murray; T Murphy, D Byrne, D Walsh, S Curtin, A Lougney, N Gibbons, D Curley, J Walshe. Replacements: K Gavin for Murphy (32), D Goode for Curtin (h-t), P McCormack for Loughney (43), P Connolly for Gibbons (61).

Referee: J Doyne (Connacht).