1.30pm/3.30pm Schools Cup Kickoffs

Supermacs Connacht Schools Cups 2012

This year’s Supermacs Connacht Schools Cup Finals will kick off this Wednesday at the Sportsground.

The Senior and Junior ties, highlights of the Schools Rugby calendar, will kick off at 1.30pm (Junior Final) and 3.30pm (Senior Final) at the heart of Connacht Rugby, The Sportsground.

The Junior Cup final will be hotly contested between defending champions Rice College, Westport and this year’s Junior League winners Sligo Grammar School. Rice College saw off the challenge of St Geralds College, Castlebar in the first round but took two attempts to beat St Joseph’s College, Galway (the Bish) in the semi-final, a 12 all draw the result in the first match. Sligo Grammar School took a more direct route, beating Calasanctius College, Oranmore and Marist College, Athlone to set up the tasty Junior Final.

The Senior Final sees Marist College, Athlone and Sligo Grammar School square up to claim the top title in Schools Rugby. Captain of Sligo Grammar School Thomas Ferrari will look to right the wrongs of last year’s final defeat to  Coláiste Iognaid, Galway (the Jes) and having seen them off in the first round and accounted for Garbally College, Ballinasloe in the semi-final the Sligo outfit will be looking for their second title in three seasons.

Marist College, Athlone are looking for their first senior title since their one and only victory in 1977. Their last final was a defeat to Coláiste Iognaid in 2008 but this year’s captain Robbie Henshaw’s side are in flying form having dispensed with both Calasanctius, Oranmore in the first round and Rice College, Westport in the semi-final so set up the mouth-watering final.

Tickets to see both matches cost €10 for adults, €5 for 13s and over, and are available from the gate on the day.

Pictured: Sligo Grammar’s Thomas Ferrari in the 2010 final against the Jes (c) www.inpho.ie