Three second-half penalty goals by Michael Carroll kept Portumna CS in the Connacht schools senior cup in this action packed semi-final replay at Sligo GS grounds yesterday.

Grammar School had the upper hand in the opening half and went in front after 14 minutes when left winger Gary Boland struck a penalty goal.

Fullback Oisin Grennan added a second five minutes before halftime to put the home side 6-0 ahead at the interval.

A spirited second-half fight-back by the visitors put Grammar school under considerable pressure before Carroll hit a penalty goal five minutes into the half. Grammar school restored their six points advantage in the 14th minute when Gary Boland converted a 25-yard penalty kick.

But a storming finish by the Galway side yielded six priceless points from the accurate boot of Carroll in the 15th and 23rd minutes, one of the kicks a superb score from near the halfway line.

Grammar tried desperately to get in for a match winning try in the tense closing minutes but Portumna's defence held firm.

The second replay will take place in Portumna.

Sligo Grammar School: O Grennan, R O'Gorman, T Sweeney, B Parke, G Boland, N O'Hara, N Draper, M Richardson, C Atkinson, W McMaxwell, C Richardson, W Tindal, D Beattie, N Carson, R Allen. Replacement: M Coulter for Parke.

Portumna: I Kenny, L Hogan, P Briscoe, B McClearnan, B Moran, R Nevin, J Muldoon, I Muldoon, D Hayes, S Madden, M Carroll, L Smith, M McKeon, I O'Toole, O Lynch. Replacement: P Geoghegan for Madden.

Referee: A Rowe (Ballina).