Mayo Colleges semi-final ends in victory for St Gerald's

MAYO POST PRIMARY SCHOOLS FLANAGAN CUP A SEMI-FINAL

St Gerald's Castlebar 3-17

Gortnor Abbey Crossomolina 3-9

In Charlestown

Scoreboards rarely lie and there was merit in that statement in Colm Horkan Memorial Park today. Indeed, the final tally may be a little harsh on the winners, given the fact that the Castlebar students bossed matters for 50 minutes before Gortnor Abbey scored two late goals.

Gerald's lorded matters in the middle of the field in the first half with Caolan Moran particularly impressive while the full-forward line of Rhys Neary, Joe Forry and Ryan McNamara were winning ball at will when it was delivered inside.

Gortnor Abbey found possession hard to come by but Dylan Flynn, Lorcan O'Donnell and Jack O'Brien caught the eye for their hard work.

Gerald's enjoyed a ten-point lead after 15 minutes, 2-4 to 0-0, following goals from McNamara and Moran.

Gortnor Abbey eventually got their opening score after 23 minutes when O'Brien found the net at the end of a fine run, and Kobe McDonald followed up with a two-point free, but Gerald's were well clear at the interval, 2-10 to 1-2.

The Crossmolina students looked to drag themselves back into it early in the second half and it took a fantastic double save from James Bolster to deny both O'Brien and McDonald a much-needed goal after 36 minutes.

Gerald's weren't as impressive in the second half but kept the scoreboard ticking with points from Conor Hoban, Ross Connolly and Daniel Filan.

Sean Óg McGuinness tried to rally the Gortnor troops and drove forward from wing-back persistently, while McDonald drove over two more two-point frees, but Gerald's were well clear.

Bolster denied McGuinness a goal seven minutes from the end, but when Ruairi Coyne kicked a classy point from the right and Mark Sheerin's long delivery flew through a crowd into the net, the Deelside students were getting closer.

However, that revival was soon halted when Ross Connolly found the net for the leaders to seal their place in the final against St Muredach's.

Gortnor Abbey never threw in the towel and had the last say. The boys in green and gold pressed forward and Ethan Reilly got on the end of a slick move to find the roof of the net in a match well refereed by Jon Finn.

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