By Evan Brennan

St Attracta’s advanced to a Connacht Junior A Championship semi-final meeting with St Gerald’s Castlebar at the expense of St Colman’s in the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence Ballyhaunis, with a victory over wasteful St Colman’s. 

It was Colman’s who began brightest immediately winning the throw in and driving through the Attracta’s defence to open the scoring in the opening minute. Attracta’s then missed a scoreable free before finally opening their account with a point from play which was followed up with a well struck free. Colman’s missed a few good opportunities in this period but they finally levelled proceedings also from a free to leave the sides all square after ten minutes of action Coleman’s dominated the middle third in the early minutes of the game but kept giving valuable possession away. When Attracta’s started to gain a foothold they punished Colman’s for their mistakes with a brilliant point from play followed by an Aidan Marren free to leave Attractas 4 points to 2 ahead with a quarter of an hour gone. 

They then left Colman’s with a huge mountain to climb when they scored 2 goals in the space of a minute through Adam Gallagher and Luke Marren which left a 8 point gap between the sides with 20 minutes gone, 2-4 to 2 points, in favour of Attracta’s, However Attracta’s took their foot off the throttle for the remainder of the half and Colman’s had a free shortly after which wasn’t converted and the signs were looking ominous for them as they weren’t being ruthless enough in front of the posts. However they did spark a mini revival from there to the half time whistle scoring 1-1 without reply with Attracta’s missing a few opportunities to add to their tally with wides from Luke Marren and namesake Aidan, coupled with a effort from Liam Carty - who was phenomenal in the absence of the injured Stephen Donoghue making countless blocks and dispossessions - dropping into the keeper’s hands. Attracta’s were then dealt an even bigger blow when the new black card rule was implemented to great effect and an Attracta’s player was sent to the sin bin for a foot trip on an opposing player meaning Attracta’s would be a man down for the first few minutes of the second period. The sides went in at the interval with Attracta’s leading by four points 2-4 to 1-3. 

Colman’s would have hoped to take advantage of the spare man in the first few minutes of the second half but it was Attracta’s who began brightest with Ben Henry opening his account to get the second half scoring underway, and despite the fact that they dominated possession Colman’s were unable to penetrate the Attracta’s defence with solid displays from Kieran Feely, Kian Golden and Kieran Jennings atoning for the one man disadvantage in the early minutes of the second period. It took almost ten minutes for Colman’s to open there second half account and when the black carded player returned Attracta’s had their full complement and became even more difficult to break down. They then stretched their lead even further with two quick points from play leaving a six point gap between the sides midway through the second period, but to their credit Colman’s refused to yield and scored a good point from play to leave five points between the sides, 

However Attracta’s soon ended the game as a contest when captain Adam Gallagher scored another fine goal to leave Coleman’s in desperate need of raising a green flag with eight points between the sides and time running out but they kept plugging away but couldn’t find a way through the stubborn Attracta’s defence as they were reduced to pot shots as the game entered its closing stages. With the game over as a contest, Attracta’s began to run their bench with impressive contributions from Jamie Frizzle and Fionn Lucey and when the referee John Glavey blew the full time whistle, there were eight points between the sides with Attracta’s advancing to a Connacht semi final meeting with St Gerald’s Castlebar knowing they still have much to improve on. As for Colman’s, it’s a case of what might have been as a gutsy display wasn’t enough against an Attracta’s side that were ultimately to street smart than them. 

The semi final is fixed for Wednesday the 12th of February with a 1.30pm start in the Connacht GAA Centre of Excellence.