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, 25th March sees the fourth and last day of Schools Finals in Dexcom Stadium with the Boys' U14 Schools League Finals. The U14 Development Boys' Schools League Final will take place at 11:00 AM followed by the U14 B Boys' Schools League Final at 12:30 PM, the U14 C Boys' Schools League Final at 2:00 PM.
The first final of a thrilling three match day is the U14 Development Boys' Schools League Final which will see two brilliant sides take the pitch - Gort Community School and Coláiste na Coiribe.
These teams could not be closer, finishing 1st and 2nd on the league table both with 15 points each. Gort Community School faced Coláiste an Eachréidh in Gort for their Round 1 U14 League match of the year, coming away with a decisive 47-10 win. Fresh off of that, the side stormed through the remainder of their league matches with further wins over Merlin College and their finalist opponents Coláiste na Coiribe where it was the Gort side that came out with a 22-5 win. This put them into a home Semi-Final against Clarin College where once again it was Gort CS that put on a skilful display to claim their League Final spot in Dexcom Stadium.
Looking to stop Gort CS' streak when it matters most is Coláiste na Coiribe. Also an impressive team with a strong season, Coláiste na Coiribe showed they were going to be hard to stop from their first league match against Merlin College where they recorded a 40-0 scoreline. They went ó neart go neart with further big wins over Coláiste an Eachréidh and Clarin College before their only loss of the season to Gort CS. This didn't deter them, however, as they bounced right back in their Semi-Final in Dangan once again against Coláiste an Eachréidh. Making no mistake, they won the match 39-15 which meant all roads led to Dexcom Stadium to once again face Gort CS sa chluiche ceannais.
Sure to be an amazing rugby match from both sides, this is a final not to be missed. The U14 Development Boys' Schools League Final is at 11:00 AM on Wed, 25th 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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Gort Community School Management: Coach/Teacher Coach Coach Coach Coach | Image
Coláiste na Coiribe Management: Príomhchóitsealaí Cóitsealaí na Tosaigh Cóitsealaí na Cúlaí Cóitsealaí na Cúlaí
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U14 Development Boys' Schools League Final
Referee: Dan Doolan | AR1: Aaron O'Connor | AR2: David Watkinson |
Gort Community School
Coláiste na Coiribe
Gort Community School Substitutes
Coláiste na Coiribe Substitutes
Gort Community School Message of Support
As Principal of Gort Community School , I am very proud of our sporting tradition.
Rugby has a very strong tradition in our school and is going from strength to strength.
I would like to wish our under 14 boys Rugby team the very best in the final today. Playing in the Dexcon Stadium today will be a memory that will last a lifetime for these young men. This team has massive potential and will mature and develop during their time in the school. I look forward to supporting them today and in the years ahead.
The team have won all 4 of their matches to date, with some very strong individual and team performances.
I would like to thank teacher John Mc Namara for helping to manage and coach the team.
I would also like to thank the parents and coaches who help train the team. Thank you to Greg Lundon, John Murray, Jason Connolly and Stephen Glynn.
Thank you to all the supporters who have come to see our school team play today.
- Brian Crossan, Gort Community School Principal
Coláiste na Coiribe Message of Support
Tá eacht déanta agaibh a bhuachaillí agus tá muid thar a bheith bródúil as an imirt agus an dul chun cinn san rugbaí i mbliana. Tá sé iontach go bhfuil sibh imithe chomh fad leis an cluiche ceannais. Bain taitneamh as an lá agus an ocáid mhór.
Coláiste na Coiribe abú!
