It was ecstasy and agony in equal measure for the young footballers of Sligo in Tuam on Saturday last as the players of Summerhill College in Sligo and St Attracta’s in Tubbercurry each gave outstanding displays of football skill, athleticism and courage in two epic ties All Ireland semi-finals that that will long be remembered by those that were lucky enough to be there.

The first game of the day pitted Summerhill against the long-celebrated St Brendan’s of Killarney (the Sem).  The Kerry college got the ideal start with an early goal that had them 1-2 to 0-1 after just five minutes but the Sligo side recovered to lead 1-8 to 1-3 at half time, with Summerhill’s goal coming from a Gavin Lynch penalty which topped excellent points from play by Dillon Walsh, Ronan Niland and Shea O’Neill.

Although the sides traded points early in the second half, St Brendan’s gradually exerted control and they hauled back and overcame the Summerhill lead to go a point up with ten minutes to go.

The Sligo lads however are nothing if not resilient having come from behind in three previous games in this championship and it was no different on this occasion as they trusted their ability to find a way. In the end the critical score came from centre forward Ronan Niland who finished a patient but thrusting move started off by James Donlon and carried on by Eli Rooney who released Niland into a goal scoring position. Walsh and Rooney added points to seal Summerhill’s All Ireland final place in Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day.

Half an hour after that drama, Tubbercurry’s St Attracta’s opened up in their All Ireland B semi-final with a blistering first 20 minutes that saw them open up a six point lead  - 0-6 to 0-0 - against the Abbey CBS  from Tipperary. The sides traded points but the South Sligo side extended their margin to seven by half time, 0-9 to 0-2.

That trend continued in the early part of the second half and both sides added points to keep the margin at seven, ten minutes in 0-11 to 0-4.  Then the Abbey upped the tempo and they outscored their opponents 2-3 to 0-2 to force the game to extra time.

With four points in the first half of extra time, St Attracta’s again put themselves in a winning position. They extended that lead in the second half but as time ran out, The Abbey rallied again to get the last two scores - a goal and a point - to force the game to penalties.

Sadly the Munster school had the upper in the penalty shootout 3-1 to put themselves into the final. It was a magnificent brave performance that just came up narrowly short.