Muredach's secure hard-earned ticket to Connacht A semi-final

CONNACHT PPS SENIOR A CHAMPIONSHIP

Summerhill College, Sligo 1-23

St Muredach's College, Ballina 2-15

In Connacht Centre of Excellence

RARELY has a five-point defeat been met with such relief. Today's final whistle in Bekan consigned St Muredach's to their first championship defeat of the year, but the margin was tight enough to leave the Moyside students top of their group and with a place sealed in the semi-final.

It's a long time since St Muredach's were in an A semi-final, and they earned their ticket this afternoon with a character-laden display despite not playing at the top of their game.

Summerhill knew a six-point win would guarantee them a place in the semi-final, but they came up a point short despite a huge and gallant effort. Therefore, the Sligo boys, last year's finalists, are out.

Muredach's led by five at the break, thanks to a goal from Sean Foody and a stream of two-pointers from Conor Jordan and Foody. The wind-assisted boys in red were being cleaned out on breaks around the middle and but for a fantastic save from goalkeeper Conor Bohan early in the half, the scoreboard wouldn't have looked as enticing.

However, Muredach's took a major step towards the semi-finals when Corey Lavery McCay crashed the ball to the net early in the new half.

The leaders had chances to stretch the gap significantly after that, but failed to do so and Summerhill came back into it. Callum Lynch, Ryan Lang, Patrick Brady and Marc Clifford kicked some classy points for the chasers as Adam Feeney popped up everywhere. Then, Lang found the net going down the pipe and suddenly Summerhill were in front.

They needed a six-point win to stay in the competition and were five up as injury time began but Patrick Carr held his nerve to convert a late Muredach's free and although Lang edged Summerhill five clear again three minutes into added time, Muredach's held on to deservedly secure a place in the last four for the first time in a generation.

A full report and after-match reaction will be carried in Tuesday's Mayo News.

WATCH REACTION: 'It's funny to lose and be through' - St Muredach's manager David McHale