A try on 52 minutes by hooker David Russell ensured that Garbally College, Ballinasloe, won their 39th Connacht Schools Junior Cup in an exciting final at the Galway Sports-ground yesterday. Garbally dominated the early stages, but full back Jarlath Egan was right and wide with a 20-metre penalty effort on 11 minutes.

Six minutes later Garbally centre Robert Kilroy kicked the ball ahead for right wing William Lyons to follow and touch down for a try.

Two minutes before half-time, Garbally had their second try when a move started by Kilroy found its way through a series of passes to left wing Conor Lavelle, who scored in the corner for a 10-0 lead.

Colaiste Iognaid, who had won their fourth and last Junior Cup title in 1987 against the same opposition, started the second half well, and a deserved try arrived midway through the period when number eight Val Baynes passed out to scrum-half Ronan Fahy, who set up the left wing, Mark Baynes, for a touchdown.

The winners' crucial try came eight minutes from time through David Russell, but Colaiste Iognaid kept in close contention to the last and had a consolation try at the death from flanker Eoghan Kenny.

Garbally College, Ballinasloe: J Egan; W Lyons, T O'Brien, R Kilroy, C Lavelle; I Barrett (capt), M Glynn; R Ford, D Russell, D Murray, O Burke, M Fahy, J Murphy, H Dolan, C Nevin.

Colaiste Iognaid, Galway: D O'Flaherty; E O'Sullivan, J Treacy, A Ross, M Baynes; J Boylan, R Fahy; D Nagle, J Keyes, D Lloyd, D Riordan, E Finnerty, C Power, V Baynes (capt), E Kenny.

Referee: P McCarthy (ARCB).