The Connacht School's Rugby Senior Cup is an annual rugby union competition for secondary schools affiliated to the Connacht Rugby Branch of the IRFU. Boys, usually of seventeen or eighteen years of age, compete for the Cup with rival schools from within the province of Connacht.
The first round matches are typically played towards the end of January, culminating in the final. The final is played in the Galway Sportsgrounds the week before Saint Patrick's Day and often attracts large crowds. The final has previously been broadcast on Setanta Sports Ireland, although this is not now the case.
Historically Garbally College, Ballinasloe have been the most successful school in the competition lifting the cup 44 times. They are followed by Colaiste Iognaid, Galway and St Josephs College, Galway (12 times), and Sligo Grammar School (9 times).
Colaiste Iognaid have been the most successful team since the turn of the millennium winning in 2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009 and 2011.
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This years competition has reached the final stages. Defending champions Sligo Grammar School beat Rice College, Westport 38-0 in the first round (quarter final). In the Semi-Final they then faced Marist |College, Athlone winning through to the Final narrowly by 12 - 7.
In the other half of the draw former Schools Cup heavyweights Garbally College lost to last years beaten finalsts Colaiste Iognaid 0-19. The Jes then went on to beat comfortably Athenry Vocational School by 30-5 in the Semi-Final to advance to face Sligo Grammar on Wednesday 9 March 2011 at the home of Connacht Rugby the Galway Sportsgrounds.
Note: The format of the competition changed in 2010 from the format up to 2009. In 2009 every team played in the Senior Cup with the teams who lost their first game playing in the Development Cup. In 2011 12 Schools played in the Development Cup, with the two finalists qualifying for the 1/4 finals of the Senior Cup along with six other teams.
Round 1
Semi-Final
Final
Sligo Grammar School will be favorites for the 2011 competition. The 2010 Senior Champions won the Junior Cup in 2008 (beating Marist College, Athlone by 8 points to 5)
| School | Outright Titles | Shared Titles | Runners-Up | Total Finals | Last Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garbally College, Ballinasloe | 44 | 3 | 47 | 2007 | |
| St. Josephs College, Galway (The Bish) | 12 | 1 | 2 | 15 | 1994 |
| Colaiste Iognaid, Galway. (The Jes) | 12 | 1 | 13 | 2011 | |
| Sligo Grammar School | 9 | 10 | 19 | 2010 | |
| Ranelagh College, Athlone | 2 | 2 | 1923 | ||
| Marist College, Athlone | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1977 | |
| Galway Grammar School | 1 | 1 | 1941 | ||
| Collegians | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1951 | |
| St Sarans College, Ferbane | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2004 | |
| Wilsons Hospital | 1 | 1 | 1966 | ||
| Clifden Community School | 1 | 1 | 1975 |