Gerald's overcome Jarlath's to set up all Mayo Connacht Final

Connacht PPS Senior A Championship Semi Final

St Gerald’s 1-11

St Jarlath’s 1-10

In Bekan

On a bitterly cold and damp evening in the Connacht Centre of Excellence, a resilient St Gerald’s performance was enough to see them into the Connacht Final at the expense of a talented St Jarlath’s team. 

Played in horrendous conditions, both sides needed to adapt from the start as a gale of a wind howled in the Mayo air. It took a while to get going but with 14 minutes on the clock, Ben Devaney got a crucial goal for Jarlath’s. 

Playing with a wind advantage, the Castlebar students found their feet as Evan Walsh and Rhys Neary caused problems in attack. With 19 minutes played, Jack Diffley got his hand to a high ball and the Gerald’s midfielder made no mistake as the net rattled. 

Going in at the break, Gerald’s led their Galway opponents 1-6 to 1-2.

Jarlath’s the side who claimed Connacht glory on 49 occasions reduced the deficit thanks to a two pointer from Kian Gilmore while the talented Killian Joyce tagged on another fine score. However former Mayo Minor Evan Walsh kept the scoreboard ticking as his accuracy showed for the boys in sky blue.

Entering the final stages, Jarlath’s had the gap down to a single point but time ran out as the Castlebar based students sealed glory as substitute Ryan McNamara pointed. Gerald's win sees them as the sixth Mayo school to have defeated Galway opposition this week following St Muredach's, Balla, Gortnor Abbey, St Tiernan's and St Brendan's victories.

St Gerald’s will now face St Muredach’s in an all Mayo Senior A Final. That will take place on Saturday, February 14.

A full match report will be carried in Tuesday’s edition of The Mayo News.

READ MORE: St Muredach's book place in Connacht Final after tough battle