Mixed results for Mayo schools in All-Ireland semi-finals

Of the four local schools in All-Ireland semi-final action this weekend, two tasted success while two suffered heartbreaking defeat.

St. Nathy's College, Ballaghaderreen, and Balla Secondary School were big winners in the Masita All-Ireland PPS Paddy Drummond Cup (Senior B football) and the Masita All-Ireland PPS Dr. Eamonn O'Sullivan Cup (Senior C Football), respectively.

Both were big winners, with St. Nathy's defeating Mount St. Michael, Roscarbery, by 3-18 to 0-11 and Balla SS accounting for Carrigaline Community School by 3-17 to 1-9.

Cnoc Mhuire, Granard, will provide the opposition to St. Nathy's in the Senior B final having enjoyed a 1-21 to 0-7 victory over Aquinas Diocesan GS, Belfast.

Meanwhile, St. Ciaran's of Ballygawley – who were comprehensive winners over St. Paul's College, Raheny (5-20 to 0-4) – will meet Balla SS in the Senior C decider.

There was heartbreak for St. Brendan's College, Belmullet, as they lost by the minimum (2-10 to 2-9) against Rice College, Ennis, in the Masita All-Ireland PPS Br. Edmund Ignatius Rice Cup (Senior D Football) semi-final.

Finally, St. Gerald's College, Castlebar, were also defeated in the Masita All-Ireland PPS Hogan Cup (Senior A Football) semi-final, losing to Tralee CSB. In a high-scoring encounter, the Castlebar lads were right in contention up to injury time but a point edged Tralee two clear and a goal in the final attack of the game put the issue beyond all doubt, the Kerry schoolboys winning 4-11 to 1-15.

*See Tuesday's print edition for reports on all four semi-finals