Connacht isn't the only team out wesht with a fancy new kit this year, rugby rookie Colaiste Einde unveiled its own high-tech figure-hugging strip on Thursday.

The venture marked a co-operative effort between the college, The IRFU and Connacht Branch, and two local businesses.

IRFU senior vice president Billy Glynn met with junior captain Aaron Byrne, coaches Alan and Dan Deegan, St Enda's principal Siobhan Quinn, college rugby master Dave O'Sullivan and about two dozen well-dressed youngsters to offer national union support. On board this winter is also Maher's Foodstuffs' Kevin Maher, another benefactor lending his weight to the Enda's rugby fraternity. Cara Office, in the Liosbaun Estate, pledged financial assistance also.

Mrs Quinn said quite aside from the efforts exerted by pupils while practicing and playing, it was both humbling and heartening that the college support network extended beyond Threadneedle Road.

Senior vice president Glynn added that Connacht and Irish rugby won whenever the sport gained a foothold in the province's colleges. Ireland's west has long been a GAA stronghold, and behind soccer and basketball, rugby often struggled to compete for playing numbers well down the sporting hierarchy. Colaiste Einde contested the Supermacs Development Cup this season but encountered recent rugby frontrunner Marist Athlone first up, acquitted themselves well, but progressed no further in this winter's competition.

Captions: (top to bottom)

StEnda's junior captain Aaron Byrne stands resplendent in the college's new playing kit. Flanking him from left are Connacht Rugby coaching development manager Eamonn Molloy, college rugby master Dave O'Sullivan, sponsor Kevin Maher (Maher's Foodstuffs), Connacht player Johnny O'Connor, and Billy Glynn, Connacht Branch senior vice president (far right).

"We'd only love to give you more" Connacht Branch senior vice president Billy Glynn, at St Enda's on Thursday presenting the college with a rugby development cheque.

"We're a proud unit, now we can look the part too" Colaiste Einde team captain Aaron Byrne (at right) thanks sponsor Kevin Maher (Maher's Foodstuffs), and Billy Glynn and Eamonn Molloy of Connacht Branch for their collective support in providing a new high-tech playing strip.

Under14s Remain Unbeaten

Sligo Grammar is the latest among Connacht's schoolboy rugby royalty to wear the CBS Roscommon backlash.

Roscommon's Under14 outfit out-thought, outplayed and outdid Grammar's youngsters 21-0; a comprehensive and no-longer-surprising result for the little-known rookies.

CBS Roscommon has made such a habit of upsetting the applecart this winter and it's perhaps lucky the World Cup-winning All Blacks aren't touring before this season's out. They might well have travelled home light on silverware.

Following CBS Juniors' victory over The Jes' in the Supermacs Connacht Schools Junior Development Cup semi-final, the Under14s romped home at The Green, Creggs, East Galway to round out another great week. Having already set regional tongues wagging with their rugby in the rain, mild conditions and a dry fast pitch afforded CBS ample opportunity to really unwind. And having already established themselves as a breakdown authority, they upped their own distribution ante running Grammar ragged in open play.

They remain unbeaten at this stage, and their fledgling rugby record remains perfectly intact.

Grammar defended typically well, no mean feat against CBS loosies Brian Diffley, Edward Clinton and James Brandon. Outhalf Michael Farrell marshalled the fliers well and freed midfielders Conor Shanaher and Adam Whyte half an hour in. Diffley grabbed the first try, early in the second quarter, Farrell added the extras from wide out.

CBS crossed the Grammar chalk again 50minutes in where Whyte benefited from solid forward grunt, scarpering in from 25m out. Farrell took his tally to four with the kick.

CBS left the foot on the throat and claimed a third in the final 10 minutes, Diffley and Farrell again combining for seven points.

(CBS: Dan Butt, Eoghan Coyle, Marco Morelli, James Fetherstone, Michael Feeley, James Brandon, Edward Clinton, Brian Diffley, James McNally, Michael Farrell, Conor McNeill, Sean Doorley, Adam Whyte, Brian Fallon, Conor Shanaher, Jack Harkins, Theo McGuinness, Oisin Lyons, Hayden O Reilly, Ian Conlon, Rian Biesty, Brandon Costello, Colm Mangan, Aaron Langan, Ben Cummins, Aaron Hegarty). (contributed - Dave Purcell)

The Supermacs Connacht Schools Cup kicked off this week, last year?s finalists Colaiste Iognaid and Sligo Grammar met in the far north, and league champions Marist Athlone ventured south to Calasanctius in Oranmore.

While league top-dogs Marist and Grammar both won their respective fixtures, they didn?t do so without a fright.

Heavily-favoured Marist couldn?t post more than three points in the first half against the sea-siders, Calasanctius every bit the measure with three to their name too. Parity continued through to the 60minute mark before Athlone kicked into fifth gear. Another five minutes and Marist coach Mick Loftus may have broken out in a cold sweat.

Loftus' squad answered the half-time call (albeit 20 minutes after hearing it) and ran in two slick tries and a draw-and-pass third to put Loftus at ease. Calansanctius' forwards (formidable throughout in defence) leased the handbrake late and shunted over for the afternoon's final score.

The Jes? (Colaiste Iognaid) departed Galway City high on expectation and backed by an historic rugby pedigree. Sligo welcomed them half-asleep.

Grammar, who led league winners Marist in the December 13 Ballyhaunis final at half-time, found wave after wave of Jes? forwards popping up in the midfield not only with numbers in tow, but a point to prove and a belly full of fire. Sligo coach Simon Galvan watched as his young charges weathered the storm surrendering only three points through a Rob Butler penalty 22minutes in. Buoyed by a vocal local crowd, Galvan?s crew returned the onslaught but had to rely on the individual efforts of a fleet-footed Sligo outhalf who beat one in broken play, and weaved himself a 26m passage to touch down 14m from the lefthand touch.

While the conversion went astray Sligo took two kickable second-half opportunities before the final whistle and finished 11-3 up to advance beyond the quarter-finals.

Garbally meet The Bish' (St Joseph's town), and Rice College Westport host border neighbours Clifden Community College in the outstanding quarter-final fixtures.

In the Junior Cup, Rice College got off to a flyer against St Gerald's of Castlebar. Rice College (Westport) ran in four tries (converting one) over their first round quarry, Keith Moon, Niall Feehan, Diarmuid McGreal and Oisin McNulty the tryscorers. 

Tom McHale dictated play from 10, and will have to be on his game to counter any territorial encampments come semi-final time. 

Rice College are the current junior cup champions and no strangers to the Sportsground. They hope to make a habit of winning away from home, Rice College manager Joe Corcoran said, and eagerly await the outcomes of other quarter-final clashes.

Development Cup Spoils Fall Bish' Way

St Joseph's (The Bish) Town edged out country counterparts Clifden Community College by a single conversion 12-10 at The Sportsground's sidepitch on Thursday.

While both teams may celebrate entry into the Supermacs Connacht Schools Senior Cup later this month, hotting and hollering was The Bish's alone. Two tries apiece meant little separated the two sides for 80minutes.

Domestic Games manager (Connacht Branch) Lyndon Jones said for all its virtues rugby could be a cruel game sometimes, and Clifden had every opportunity to stake a claim for cup honours.

"I suppose to an extent it came down to one kick, but then if you say that, this final really came down to two kicks, it was just that one of them missed," Jones said.

Branch President John Carr was on site yesterday for the duration, noticeably more comfortable than his last Supermacs Connacht Schools outing - sleet-peppered frostbitten Ballyhaunis league finals. Opting to let players alone wear shorts on Thursday, Mr Carr said school rugby in Connacht was perennially fascinating given it was rare for the same schools to feature as finalists year-in, and year-out.

He congratulated Clifden on their rise through the ranks and The Bish on never being too far off the pace.

The schools cups continue in both senior and junior (open) format throughout January and February.

Sligo Grammar, Marist College Athlone, St Joseph's (The Bish), Oranmore's Calasanctius, Garbally and Rice College Westport boast teams in junior and senior cups, albeit Garbally, The Bish and Marist there by way of development cup successes. St Gerald's Castlebar and Sligo's Summerhill comprise the two vacant spots in the junior cup, and The Jes' (Colaiste Iognaid) and Clifden Community College round out the senior knock-out.

Connacht Branch will cover both competitions throughout the next four weeks, watch this space.