Pearses finish strong to book Connacht final spot

Pádraig Pearses secured a place in their third Connacht final in as many attempts as they defeated Mohill 0-13 to 0-3. Frank Canning’s side squeezed the life out of Mohill in this afternoon’s provincial semi-final clash at Ballinamore, outscoring the Leitrim champions by 0-10 to 0-1 in the second half.

After the visitors failed to score in the first quarter, when Keith Beirne raised the only flag through a free, it seemed like it might be a similar story to last year’s semi-final when Mohill pushed St. Brigid’s to the wire at Dr. Hyde Park.

Greasy conditions and a physical battle led to a lot of handling errors on both sides, with little or no space close to the goals. Eventually, after Declan Kenny hit the post and three other efforts were sent wide of the target, Ronan Daly made the breakthrough in the 18th minute, following up with a second score a minute later off his left foot.

At 0-3 to 0-2 at half-time in Pearses’ favour with the wind set to blow at the backs of Frank Canning’s charges after the interval, it was all going according to plan at that stage, but it was only when Mohill corner back David Mitchell picked up his second yellow card in the 41st minute that things got really comfortable.

Points from Conor Daly and Paul Carey had just made it 0-6 to 0-3 when Mitchell tripped Declan Kenny and picked up a second yellow card, but within five minutes of gaining a numerical advantage, Conor Daly had sent over the best score of the game from long range and Declan Kenny split the uprights on the run, and against a side that were on course for their fifth consecutive clean sheet, Mohill never looked like getting the goals they needed to make the game competitive again.

The win ensures Pádraig Pearses will face Coolera/Strandhill in the final after the Sligo outfit overcame Ballina Stephenites 5-4 on penalties in the other provincial semi final.