The Gaels were left cursing three late misses that would have tied the game for them and, in all truth, the draw would have been the fairest result in a tough, encounter between two evenly matched teams.

A goal from John Crowe less than two minutes from the end of normal time proved crucial at a time when Melvin Gaels looked as if they would secure the win. That left the Carrick side two clear but, true to their nature, the Kinlough side fought back like tigers.

St. Mary’s were pinned in their own half for nearly five minutes of added time but the Gaels saw three chances fly wide of the target, one narrowly so. The result means the Carrick side are through to the quarter-finals while Melvin Gaels face a winner takes all battle with Mohill next weekend!

Both sides had periods of supremacy in this encounter and both looked at times if they were going to win it. St. Mary’s threatened to pull away on several occasions only for the sheer battling spirit of the Gaels to pull them back time after time.

The Carrick side couldn’t cope either with the fast moving, multi-layered moves of the Kinlough side who, without Daniel Branley as an outlet, played some wonderful intricate moves down the field.

Carrick, on the other hands, relied on powerful surging individual runs for their scores and with Jimmy Guckian or Ian McGreevy, they had two players perfectly suited for that role.

The game was a hard affair with both sides asking nor giving any quarter. And with some spectacular scores and lovely football, both will be extremely hard beaten in the last eight if the Gaels qualify.

Both sides hit early wides before Jimmy Guckian finished off a typical run with a fifth minute point after an Ian McGreevy catch. With tough exchanges, scores were at a premium and it took another six minutes until McGreevy converted a free after a Phelan foul.

McGreevy added a third after a late foul on James Keane and, with St. Mary’s threatening to pull away, Melvin Gaels gave themselves a lifeline when James Phelan finished off a great move involving Gareth Foley, Gerry McGurn & Shane McCarron with a fine point after seventeen minutes.

Almost immediately, a lovely Keane pass found Brian Duignan for a well taken point and St. Mary’s went four clear when a forty yard free from McGreevy flew over. Nine minutes from the break, Shane McCarron scored a brilliant score from the wing after another great passing move.

A minute later, Aiden Dolan took advantage of St. Mary’s losing the ball to fire over a point. The Gaels then hit three wides in as many minutes but they dramatically went in front when a free in was fielded magnificently by Gerry McGurn on the edge of the square.

He turned and fired a low shot off the post to the back of the net for a dramatic goal less than three minutes before the break. However, St. Mary’s showed real character to come back with lovely points from Dermot Reynolds and McGreevy (a

free) to leave them 0-7 to 1-3 in front at the break.

The second half opened explosively with Gerry McGurn having a goal disallowed for charging keeper Darren Glancy. Almost straight away, Gareth Phelan made a good save to deny Jimmy Guckian a goal after a good move.

Dermot Reynolds scored his second point after a lovely turn in the third minute and St. Mary’s looked as if they were pulling away when McGreevy finished off a move involving Reynolds and Ollie McGuinness.

But Melvin Gaels are tremendous battlers and a high ball up was knocked down to Gareth Foley who swept over a lovely score. Sub Fergal McGowan came on and Ollie McGuinness was penalised for touching the ball on the ground, Liam Gilmartin converting the free after eight minutes.

John Crowe was sent on but Melvin Gaels drew level when Ian McGreevy lost the ball and another lightning quick move ended with a great James Phelan score.

The Gaels went in front with a lovely Gilmartin free from the wing and they threatened to put the game beyond a panicking St. Mary’s only to register some costly wides. With twelve minutes left, St. Mary’s levelled the scores when an Ollie McGuinness run saw John Crowe fist the ball over the bar.

Ian McGreevy was yellow carded for a late foul and Anthony Tiffoney put the Gaels back in front when a long sideline ball was knocked down to him with seven minutes left. But with Brendan Guckian calming his side, St. Mary’s fought back and goaled against the run of play.

A long ball up to sub Johnny Goldrick, on for Gene Bohan, saw two Gaels defenders collide. Goldrick was left free to run in and he off-loaded to John Crowe who made no mistake from very close range.

That left St. Mary’s two clear and seemingly safe but Melvin Gaels had other ideas and camped in the Carrick half for the remainder of the game. Mark Rowley was yellow carded but Darren Glancy made a vital catch on Gilmartin free.

However, Joe Tiffoney left just a point between the sides when he finished off a good run. The Gaels then had three chances to draw the game but James Phelan, Anthony Tiffoney and Matt Connolly all saw efforts go wide of the posts as they were left devastated by their narrow loss.

Best for St. Mary’s were James McGowan, Brendan Guckian, Ian McGreevy, Dermot Reynolds and Jimmy Guckian while Gareth Foley, James Phelan, Anthony Tiffoney, Gerry McGurn, Fabian McMorow and Aidan Dolan were best for the Gaels.

St. Mary’s

Darren Glancy, Fergal Reynolds, James McGowan, Fergal Reynolds, Michael Greene, Ollie McGuinness, Mark Rowley, James Keane, Brendan Guckian, Paul McGreevy, Ian McGreevy (0-5), Jimmy Guckian (0-1), Gene Bohan, Dermot Reynolds (0-2), Brian Duignan (0-1). Subs: John Crowe (1-1) for Duignan (39 mins), Johnny Goldrick for Bohan (51 mins), Bernard Murray for Keane (56 mins).

Melvin Gaels

Gareth Phelan, Matt Connolly, Padraig McGloin, Fabian McMorrow, Anthony Tiffoney (0-1), James Phelan (0-2), Joe Tiffoney (0-1), Aidan Dolan (0-1), Gareth Foley (0-1), David Gillespie, Martin McCarron, Shane McCarron (0-1), Thomas Lipsett, Liam Gilmartin (0-2), Gerry McGurn (1-0). Subs: Fergal McGowan for Lipsett (37 mins), Simon Foley.