St Saran's, Ferbane withstood sustained pressure from Portumna Community School against a strong wind in the second half in Ferbane yesterday to reach the semi-finals of the Connacht Schools' Senior Cup. Conditions were deplorable in the first half with driving rain and a hailstorm, but St Saran's used the elements to build up a 20-5 halftime lead. Outhalf Ronan Daly kicked two penalties and converted tries by David Kelly and Conor Grogan while Portumna's try was scored by Paul Briscoe.

Portumna got back into the game with a try by Michael McKeown which was converted by Michael O'Carroll. An O'Carroll penalty brought them to within five points of the home side but heroic tackling by St Saran's in the last 10 minutes prevented the Galway side completing their fightback.

St Saran's, Ferbane: S Butler; A Egan, O Geraghty, J Mannion, B Lowry; R Daly, C O'Loughlin; D Kelly, W Farrell, C Galvin, C Campbell, E Kelly, C Grogan, C Scott, R Guinan.

Portumna Community School: E Lynch; V Sellers, M O'Carroll, K Hayes, M McKeown; A Smith, J Muldoon; M Headd, R Nevin, L Headd, J Mannion, P Briscoe, F Leonard, L Hogan, C Burke.

Yesterday's Leinster Schools' Junior Cup match between Belvedere and St Michael's and the Munster Senior Cup games between Crescent and St Munchin's and Cashel CS and Glenstal were called off because of the bad weather.