Diarmuid O'Connell stars as Sligo Grammar School got their Connacht Schools Senior Cup defence off to a winning start at home against CBS Roscommon.

O’Connell scored two tries in the first half to give his side a comfortable lead at the break with CBS getting one back midway through the second half but the Roscommon side would have to settle for the losing bonus point.

CBS Roscommon are out again next week as they host Marist whilst Sligo travel to Marist in a fortnight's time. 

The opening ten minutes of the game were lively with the Grammar looking to assert their favourites tag from the off. CBS Roscommon were not overly fancied coming into this game but knew the longer they could keep this game scoreless that it would give them a real chance of an upset. 

Cormac Dolan had the first chance of the game to take the lead for CBS but similar to yesterday’s fixtures, kicking for goal was a very difficult task due to the conditions. 

It was a quarter of the way through the match when Grammar took advantage. Diarmuid O’Connell went over the white line to give the hosts the lead. Mark Tempany was unable to add the extras. 

Matthew Ryan blocked down a CBS attempted kick around halfway which drove the Roscommon side back and Sligo took advantage of the turnover with O’Connell going over the line for Sligo and his second try of the game. Tempany this time was able to convert giving the Grammar a comfortable lead as the clock ticked over the half-hour mark.

Sligo looked to add a third before the break but some great defending from Conor Betts of CBS prevented the Grammar, winning his side a much-needed turnover. 

Grammar defended well towards the end of the half and kept CBS Roscommon at bay leaving the score 12-0 at the break. 

The second half began in scrappy fashion with a whole host of mistakes due to the conditions along with tempers starting to fray. 

CBS Roscommon got back into the game with twenty minutes to go, with Cormac Dolan breaking over the line off a Grammar mistake. Dolan missed the conversion but his try meant his team were within one score with twenty minutes to go.

Sligo managed to hold off any late Roscommon push to take the victory and get their Senior Cup campaign off to a winning start.