Connacht Schools Junior Cup Explained

Connacht Schools Junior Cup
Sport:Rugby Union
Founded:1913
Teams:7 (season 2023-24)
Champion:Marist College, Athlone (2024)
Most Champs:Garbally College
42

The Connacht Schools Junior Challenge Cup is an under-age rugby union competition for schools affiliated to the Connacht Branch of the IRFU.

Competition is confined to students under the age of 16. The final is held in March each year in the Galway Sportsgrounds. It is usually seen as a good forecast as who will win the Connacht Schools Senior Cup in the following years.

Garbally College have been the most successful school in the competition lifting the cup 42 times. They are followed by St Joseph's College, Galway (10 times), Sligo Grammar School (7 times), Coláiste Iognáid, Marist College, Athlone and Ranelagh College (4 times) and Calasanctius College, Oranmore (2 times)

Marist College, Athlone have been the most successful team since the turn of the millennium winning the Junior cup Nine times (2000, 2002, 2005, 2007, 2013, 2016,2018, 2022, 2024).

Competition structure

The Connacht Rugby Schools Cup is a three tier competition.

Junior Cup [Junior A Cup]

The premier competition played by the strongest rugby playing schools in the region. Current competition format is two pools [A & B] of three teams playing each other round robin.The Winners & Runner Up in each pool proceeding to the Semi-Finals.

The two other tiers cater for schools who cannot consistently compete at Junior Cup level by reason of playing population or experience.

In total 30 Schools representing all five provincial counties participated in the various Connacht Rugby Junior Schools Cups in 2019.

Connacht Junior Development Cup [Junior B Cup]

Is the Second Tier Competition for schools with established Rugby programs but who due to lower playing numbers or do not have the high level of population experience to consistently compete at Junior Cup Level.
Nine schools compete in three pools of three, leading to semi-finals and a final.

Connacht Junior Emerging Cup [Junior C Cup]

Is the Third Tier Competition for Schools who have recently introduced Rugby programs within their schools.
Nine schools compete in three pools of three, leading to semi-finals and a final.

The target is for schools to establish themselves within the lowest tier initially, and progress through to the highest tier.

Performance by School

SchoolOutright Titles Shared TitlesRunners-Up +1Total Finals +2Last Title
Garbally College437502019
St. Josephs College Galway (The Bish)1011121991
Marist College, Athlone94132024
Sligo Grammar School714122008
Colaiste Iognaid (The Jes)46101987
Ranelagh College, Athlone441929
Rice College2132012
Portumna Community School2132001
Calasanctius College, Oranmore2132010
Galway Grammar School221958
CBS Roscommon2132020
Summerhill College, Sligo1232023
St Geralds College, Castlebar112014
Clifden Community School111976
Galway Vocational School111969
St Muiredachs College, Ballina23N/A

+1 Since 1989 (Excluding 1992-4)+2 Only counting wins and losing finals since 1989

Results

1910

1920

1930

1940

1950

1960

1970

1980

1990

2000

2010

2020

Other Cup Competitions

Junior Development Cup [Junior B Cup]

2010

2020

Junior Emerging Cup [Junior C Cup]

2010

2020

Other Competitions

Junior B Cup

Junior C Cup

Junior League

2000

2010

2020

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Marist make history as Cooper seals cup double . 21 March 2013 . . 21 March 2013.
  2. News: ST GERALD'S COLLEGE CASTLEBAR WIN THE CONNACHT SCHOOLS JUNIOR CUP FINAL. Midwest Radio 96.1fm. 19 March 2014.
  3. News: CBS Roscommon captured the 2015 Connacht Schools Junior Cup. TheJournal.ie. 18 March 2015.
  4. News: Conteh and Hoare bag braces to seal cross-code double for Roscommon. 26 March 2015 . . 17 March 2015.
  5. News: In it to Winnett: Marist seal comprehensive win. 17 March 2016 . . 17 March 2016.
  6. News: Garbally Snatch Top Oil Junior Cup - Connacht Rugby. Connacht Rugby. 15 March 2017. 15 March 2017. 16 March 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170316114724/http://community.connachtrugby.ie/garbally-snatch-top-oil-junior-cup/. dead.
  7. News: Marist regain Junior Cup with tense win over Garbally - Connacht Rugby. Connacht Rugby. 21 March 2018.
  8. Web site: GBFM . Sport . School's Cup Rugby Final Day – Live . Galway Bay FM . 13 March 2019 . 13 March 2019.
  9. Web site: Connacht Rugby - Tom Sheehan the hero as Marist take home Schools Junior Cup . Connacht Rugby . en . 30 March 2022.
  10. Web site: Connacht School's Junior A Cup final 2023 . Connacht Rugby - Twitter . en.
  11. Web site: Marist claim Junior Schools Cup & League crowns. . Connacht Rugby . en . 13 March 2024.
  12. News: Elvery's Connacht Schools Junior Development Cup Final: Gallen CS 32-3 Gortnor Abbey. www.gallencs.com.
  13. News: Calasanctius Take Development Title - Connacht Rugby. Connacht Rugby. 22 March 2017.
  14. News: Pres Athenry complete Schools Cup double with commanding win in Junior Development Cup Final - Connacht Rugby. Connacht Rugby. 15 March 2018.
  15. Web site: Connacht Rugby - REPORT: Schools Junior B Cup heading to Colaiste Bhaile Chláir . Connacht Rugby . en . 30 March 2022.
  16. Web site: Full-time in the 2023 Connacht Schools' Junior B Cup final. . Connacht Rugby - Twitter . en.
  17. News: Abbey CC Clinch Junior Emerging Title - Connacht Rugby. Connacht Rugby. 22 March 2017.
  18. News: Abbey Community College claim Junior Emerging Schools Cup it tight encounter - Connacht Rugby. Connacht Rugby. 15 March 2018.
  19. Web site: Connacht Rugby - REPORT: Gort CS power their way to Junior C Cup glory . Connacht Rugby . en . 30 March 2022.
  20. Web site: ull-time in the 2023 Connacht School's Junior C final . Connacht Rugby - Twitter . en.
  21. Web site: Connacht Rugby - Community Fixtures & Results . Connacht Rugby . en.
  22. Web site: https://twitter.com/MaristRFC/status/1473361351007473670 . Marist Rugby Twitter . en.
  23. Web site: Marist claim Junior Schools Cup & League crowns. . Connacht Rugby . en . 13 March 2024.