This year’s Statoil Connacht Schools Junior Cup has proved to be one of the most thrilling in recent years, with yet another last-minute twist in the Final in the Sportsground last Thursday. Marist Athlone & Sligo Grammar must do battle all over again in a replay on Tuesday April 30 in Creggs at 1pm.

In their semi-final against Portumna, Sligo got through thanks to a last-minute winner. But this time round they were on the receiving end as Marist’s Mark Bannon scored an injury-time try under the posts, and the conversion by out-half half Darren Costello ensured a replay. Thus it completed a great comeback for the Athlone side who were 12-0 down at half-time.

Sligo’s scores in the opening period came from tries by Caolan O'Grady and captain Ross O'Boyle, with out-half David Draper adding a conversion. But on 50 minutes Marist got back into the game through an unconverted try by flanker Kevin Toohey. And this set up the grandstand finish which resulted in the last-minute dramatics. And so these two excellent sides must do battle all over again to decide the destiny of this year’s trophy.

MARIST ATHLONE N Lynch; R Carter, A Burns, M Gavin, E McCormack (N Greghan h/t); D Costello, D Griffiths; D Lennon, C O'Laoide, M Prior, E Rock, C O'Connor, K Toohey, P Galvin (Capt), M Bannon.

SLIGO GS S Dorran; C O'Grady, B Mullen, R Butler, R Wehrly; D Draper, F Considine; G McIntyre, R Maxwell, R O'Boyle (Capt), B McCabe (J Barry 46), M Richmond, N Hodgins, K Richardson, J Draper.

REF R Gibson (Connacht).