Galway schools dominate quarter-final line up

Date Published: 24-Jan-2008

A TOTAL of five Galway teams are still in contention to lift the Connacht Tribune Connacht Senior Schools Cup as the competition
enters the ‘business-end’with four mouth-watering quarter-
final ties scheduled for next Wednesday and Thursday.
The all-Galway clash of St. Joseph’s College, Galway (‘The Bish’) versus defending champions Garbally College Ballinasloe will probably be the tightest affair.
Garbally have dominated Schools Senior Cup Rugby since the competition began in 1913. The 1980s and 1990s were particularly memorable decades with the school winning 14 out of the 20 cup
finals.
This decade has been less successful and — although the East Galway school captured the league and cup double last year — with the recent phasing-out of boarders at the school (currently there are
only seven with just one playing rugby) it looks like Garbally could struggle in the years ahead.
Garbally face into the quarter final without any of the talented backline players that won the Junior Cup for the school two years ago. The loss of influential back-row Keelan Headd, who was injured last Saturday is another major blow, while Donal Fenton, Ger Blaine and Alan Burke are also ruled out through injury.
‘The Bish’ had a poor start to the season suffering heavy defeats but have significantly improved their performances in the later stages of league.
They are second only to Garbally in the roll of honour but have struggled in recent years.
That said, they seem to be more experienced with ten of last year’s beaten quarter finalists in the squad this year.