Sligo Grammar's masterclass at home against the Jes has set up a Senior Cup Final clash with Marist in two weeks time. 

The Grammar were clinical from the off and made every error pay as they ran home six tries through six different scorers including five in the opening half. 

The Jes will be disappointed with some minor errors in the game but it was an extremely tough task coming into the home of the reigning champions and causing an upset.

To get to this stage, Sligo Grammar topped their group with victories over CBS Roscommon and Marist but for their opponents today it was a bit less straightforward. The Jes came out on the right side of a one point victory over Garbally to open but fell to a strong Summerhill side in round two. It was all to play for in the final fixture in which once again Iognaid showed incredible battle to be on the right side of a victory by the narrowest of margins. These two sides met in last year's final and the Jes knew what to expect travelling up to Sligo. 

Sligo Grammar started the stronger of the sides and made their early pressure count as from a lineout, Quentin Moughty got over the line to give the hosts an early lead. Earl Norris was able to add the conversion from close to the sideline.

It wasn’t long until the Grammar got over again as they looked to put the sword to the Jes early on, this time a great drive lead to Arann Platt got over the whitewash to extend their lead to 12 but Norris unable to add the extras on this occasion. 

It didn’t take long for the away side to respond though. From a Sligo offside penalty, the Jes took advantage of a quick restart and a great dummy pass left Bobby Power the space to get over the line and bring this game back to a one-score fixture. Elwood was clinical from his first kick of the afternoon as the Galway side were beginning to show the spirit that has got them this far in the competition. 

Despite the Jes looking the stronger of the two sides it was the Grammar who struck next, Gerard Murtagh with a fantastic piece of individual skill to break a tackle and get through to touch down and extend his sides lead back to 10 points. Norris kicked the extra two to extend the hosts lead out to 12. 

There were signs of nerves coming from the away side. A handling error on the dead ball line for Kelly giving the Grammar a five-metre scrum and they took full advantage of this with Ambrose Bamber breaking away from the pack to get over for the hosts fourth try of the half. Norris made it three from four from the boot.

It seems as though halftime couldn’t come quick enough for the Jes but there was further punishment to come. Conor Creaven offloaded to Bamber who gave it to Dara Holmes who went in under the posts to put massive daylight between the sides just before the break. The hosts lead at halftime on a massive scoreline of 33-7. 

George Barlow with a little kick through that he got on the end of himself to touch down opened the scoring at the start of the second half to put whatever momentum and life the Jes came out of halftime with to bed. 

The Jes did not let their heads drop as they spent the majority of the second half pushing to get back on the board but the second-half defensive performance from the Grammar was as much as impressive as the first-half attacking display as they forced the away side into errors and did not let their opponents back into the game. 

Sligo Grammar will head to the Sportsgrounds with a massive favourites tag as they look to regain their title once more but Marist have already shown Summerhill that they are well capable of an upset. Definitely not a final to be missed.

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.