Mayo students battle their way into Connacht semi-final

CONNACHT PPS SENIOR A CHAMPIONSHIP

St Gerald's Castlebar 3-9

Leitrim Schools 1-13

In Connacht Centre of Excellence

It was cold, it was dreary and the football was poor at times, but the St Gerald's players and management won't care. The Castlebar students did enough to top their group and secure a place in the semi-final with a hard-fought win over a fine Leitrim team.

In truth, this could have gone either way. There was a time in the second half when it looked like the Leitrim boys were about to pull away, but Gerald's stuck at it and a late goal from Eoghan McHale moved the boys in blue into a winning position.

Leitrim kicked a stream of two-pointers in the first 40 minutes but Gerald's got goals at crucial moments courtesy Ben Joyce, who worked tirelessly all day.

The Castlebar team had been hit with a bout of sickness in the days leading up to the game and it showed, as they played with a distinct lack of urgency for vast periods of the game. Leitrim were more direct and transitioned the ball much quicker with Evan Gilligan, Sean McGowan, Jack Moolick and Frankie McManus prominent.

However, Gerald's, who had defenders Eoghan Murray and Adam Burton to the fore, never stopped looking to do the right thing. Half-time substitute Ryan McNamara made a big difference to the Mayo boys and with time ticking away Conor Hoban kicked them level.

Then, McHale popped up to score the vital goal and try as they might, Leitrim couldn't recover. The result sent Gerald's into the semi-final at the head of the group with Claregalway also through to the quarter-final while Leitrim exit the competition.

The match was well refereed by Roscommon's Ian Monaghan.

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