There was a certain inevitability about the outcome at the Sportsground, Galway, yesterday. It was Sligo, the holders, who made their dominant phases pay dividends, going 12-0 ahead at the start before building a 17-3 lead after 53 minutes and allowing St Saran's no way back.

Niall Draper and Niall O'Hara claimed Sligo's opening scores as they ultimately fed off strong running wingers Pearse Feeney and Trevor Sweeney as well as driving openside Niall Carson.

St Saran's, with Ronan Daly at outhalf, an inspiring Conor O'Loughlin beside him and the towering David Kelly at number eight kept the holders on edge with their probing, but it was finally Sligo's more complete strength that saw them through.

St Saran's did have their assertive period but with Sligo number eight William Tindall dominating the lineouts, clear opportunities were scarce.

Trevor Sweeney scored Sligo's third try following a tapped penalty and similarly a brief flourish by St Saran's saw O'Loughlin darting through the cover. But fittingly Feeney rounded off Sligo's victory.

Scoring sequence: 7 mins: N Draper try, 50; 9 mins: N O'Hara try, G Boland con, 12-0; 41 mins: R Daly pen, 12-3; 53 mins: T Sweeney try, G Boland con, 19-3; 61 mins: C O'Loughlin try, R Daly con, 19-10; 63 mins: P Feeney try, 24-10.

Sligo Grammar School: J McShane; P Feeney, T Sweeney, M Coulter, G Boland; N O'Hara, N Draper; W Tindall, N Carson, A Noble, T Richardson, A Macey, W Maxwell, C Adamson, M Richardson (capt)

St Saran's Ferbane: S Butler; A Egan, O Geraghty, J Mannion (capt), N Kenny; R Daly, C O'Loughlin; D Kelly, R Guinan, C Galvin, C Campbell, E Kelly, C Grogan, W Farrell, C Scott. Replacements: S Henry for Grogan (16 mins), B Lowry for Egan (68 mins)

Referee: A Rowe (ARCB)