Mount Saint Michael of Claremorris dismiss Spanish Point to reach All-Ireland final

All-Ireland PPS Senior B Championship semi-final

Mount Saint Michael 4-13 St Joseph's Spanish Point 3-9

In Ballinasloe 

One of the finest-ever Mount Saint Michael teams advanced to an All-Ireland senior final this afternoon.

Mayo senior Bree Hession was their brightest star, shooting 3-6 in a game where the Claremorris school led by double digits for much of the game. That was until Spanish Point mounted a daring second-half comeback that brought them within five of the Connacht champions.

Spanish Point never gave in and kept their opponents on their toes with a dangerous second-half purple patch. However, a 3-9 1-2 half-time deficit was far too wide a gap to bridge facing a team with players that have won before and after them at underage.

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The Clare girls began the game in ideal fashion when the impressive Ellie Hanrahan netted almost exactly on the minute mark.

Little did they expect that Mount Saint Michael would shoot 2-6 without reply in a devastating 19-minute spell that seemed to kill Spanish Point's hopes of victory.

Mount Saint Michael, who were fuelled by a stellar midfield showing from captain Síobha McNutly and Isobel Phillips, hit their first goal through Ashleagh Sammon.

Bree Hession hit the other two directly from point attempts before completing her hat-trick in the 41^st minute. The Brickens woman could have had a second had she not sent a second half penalty kick to the right and wide.

Mount Saint Michael were comfortable until Spanish Point hit 2-3 on the trot with goals coming from Kalta Talty Darcy and Abi Kelly.

But the Claremorris girls rode out the storm and charted a course for the All-Ireland final with seven points to spare.

A full report plus reaction will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.

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