On behalf of the Connacht Schools committee it is my great pleasure to welcome everyone to Dexcom Stadium today for the 2025/26 Connacht Schools’ League finals. The number of Boys' and Girls' schools teams playing rugby in Connacht continues to grow each year.
I wish to express my appreciation to all the principals, teachers, coaches, and staff in our schools for their continued support of the game. Your hard work has not gone unrecognised. I also wish to thank the members of the Connacht Rugby Schools Committee for their work and help over the past year.
If I may, a brief word to those who will be proudly donning their school jersey for the final during this season: this is only the start of a new journey. Join a local club or university team next year. The camaraderie and friendships forged through rugby will endure long after you have hung up your boots.
I would like to thank the Association of Referees Connacht Branch for their dedication in providing referees and other officials, without whom, we would not have any games. Therefore, I urge anyone who loves rugby to consider further contributing to the game by taking up the whistle.
I know that today’s finals will provide an exciting conclusion to the league and, regardless of the results, I hope everyone thoroughly enjoys the day, creating magic memories to last a lifetime.
Ádh mór oraibh go léir,
Jean McConnell
Connacht Rugby Chair of Schools
Match Preview
This Wednesday, 4th March sees the first day of Finals back in Dexcom Stadium post-holidays with the Girls' Senior A, Junior A and U14 Schools League Finals. The Senior A Girls’ Schools League Final will take place at 11:00 AM followed by the Junior A Girls’ Schools League Final at 12:30 PM and the U14 Girls' Schools League Final at 2:00 PM.
The second final of a thrilling triple-header is the Junior A Girls’ Schools League Final which will see last year's Junior A League winners Sacred Heart Westport take on last year's Junior B League winners Dunmore Community School in what is sure to be a great contest.
These two sides have had great league campaigns this season with Sacred Heart recording a clean sheet of wins in similar fashion to their Senior counterparts and Dunmore CS only losing out to Sacred Heart and St. Mary's Ballygar. Similarly to Sacred Heart, Dunmore CS will also appear in two of today's Schools League Finals with their other team in the U14 Girls' Schools League Final.
Sacred Heart convincingly stormed into their home Semi-Final with their two closest League matches against Athlone CC and Dunmore CS meaning they faced 4th place team St Marys Ballina in their Semi-Final. It was the Sacred Heart side that came out with a 54-27 win and a chance to get their 3-in-a-row Junior A Girls' Schools League Final win.
However, Sacred Heart will need to get past a strong Dunmore CS side to retain their trophy. Dunmore CS were last year's Junior B Girls' League Winners and have shown definitively why they deserve a place in this year's Junior A final as well. Dunmore CS had some impressive wins in their Junior A Girls' Schools League campaign, including their home Semi-Final win against Clonfert College where the Galway side sealed their Finals place with a 43-12 scoreline.
Sure to be an electric final not to be missed, the Junior A Girls’ Schools League Final is at 12:30 PM on Wed, 4th March in Dexcom Stadium.
A word from Head of Club and Community, Joe Gorham
Finals Days are the pinnacle of our Club and School players’ ambitions. It is a day of celebration for the whole of Connacht Rugby. It is truly a memorable occasion for all concerned which, undoubtedly, will be a source of conversation with your teammates in the many years ahead.
The sport of rugby allows for all our players to realise the limits of their ambitions, it allows us to create lifelong memories, however, most importantly, it is the maker of lifelong friendships.
There is no better feeling than to lift a Cup, Plate or Bowl alongside your teammates while representing your club or school. It is all about People and Place.
Sport also reflects life, in that, with every cup final there must be a winner and a loser. Regardless of winning or losing, the hope is that everyone involved on Finals Days will have a quality experience on their big day.
The advent of the new pitch at Dexcom Stadium has allowed Club and Community the opportunity to host additional Cup and League Finals (male and female/Club & School) this season. In fact, we are hugely excited to host over 40 Club & School finals over the course of the next few months.
On Finals Days, we must never forget the huge amount of work and personal sacrifice put in by all the Volunteers, Coaches and Managers to get you to this day. Volunteers are the life-blood of our sport and it would be remiss of me, on this day of celebration, not to say a huge thank you to each and every Club & School Volunteer for the magical work you put in day in and day out for the cause that is rugby in Connacht.
Finally, we at Club & Community rugby wish all our finalists and their loyal supporters the very best of luck on the day.
Connacht Abú.
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Sacred Heart School Management: Team Manager Team Manager Teacher/Manager
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Dunmore Community School Management: Coach Coach Teacher/Manager
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Junior A Girls Schools League Final
Referee: Ross Gallagher | AR1: Paul Fogerty | AR2: John Fitzmaurice |
Sacred Heart School
Dunmore Community School
Sacred Heart School Substitutes
Dunmore Community School Substitutes
Sacred Heart School Message of Support
Today marks a landmark occasion for Sacred Heart School Westport, as both our Senior and Junior girls’ teams compete for Connacht titles. Rugby has flourished in our school in recent years, thanks to the dedication and encouragement of our teachers and coaches, the unwavering support of our local rugby club, and the continued guidance of Connacht Rugby.
Our Senior team enters today’s final as back-to-back Connacht champions, aiming to complete a remarkable three in a row. Meanwhile, our Junior team, having shown tremendous resilience last year, returns more determined than ever to seize their moment.
We are immensely proud of our players and everyone involved with both teams for their commitment, teamwork, and achievements to date. A heartfelt thank you to our parents and supporters who have accompanied us every step of the way , your encouragement means so much to our girls.
- Sarah McGreal, Principal
Dunmore Community School Message of Support
Wishing the very best of luck to our Junior Girls Rugby Team and U14 Girls Rugby Team as they compete in a Connacht Final!
Everyone at Dunmore CS is so proud of your hard work, commitment, and team spirit. You have already achieved so much to reach this stage, and you represent our school with determination and pride every time you step onto the pitch.
Play with confidence, support each other, and enjoy every moment of this fantastic achievement. No matter the result, you’ve made your school and community immensely proud.
From all at Dunmore CS — we are behind you all the way. Best of luck girls!
