Burke point a bitter pill for St Mary's to take

Galway champions Annaghdown came from eight points down to win by one in a thrilling Connacht semi-final at Tuam stadium yesterday.

A pointed free off his hands by 19-year-old Damian Burke on the stroke of full-time clinched their place in the final against Mayo champions Charlestown. But the outcome was a bitter pill for St Mary's to swallow.

The Sligo team deservedly led at half-time by 0-7 to 0-2 and stretched that lead one minute into the second half. But then came a remarkable revival by Annaghdown, prompted by Morgan Duggan's tireless work at midfield and the clever targetman play of Michael Newell operating first at full forward and then to even more telling effect at centrehalf forward.

St Mary's introduced Robert Bree midway through the second half, and the key play-maker, who was kept on standby at the start because of injury, landed two excellent points from play to maintain his team's lead on the scoreboard.

These points had St Mary's in front at 0-9 to 0-6 midway through the second half and later at 0-10 to 0-8 but Annaghdown launched attack after attack and Michael Newell and Damian Burke were displaying marksmanship of the highest order.

In the last four minutes of a game that had a big crowd on their feet, Damian Burke pointed two pressure frees to claim the day for a gallant Annaghdown side, who had to play this important fixture a mere seven days after winning their own county championship.

Mark Breheny gave a brilliant shooting display for the luckless losers, notching seven points, including five from play.

ANNAGHDOWN: P O'Neill; V Small, A Fitzpatrick, M O'Neill; B Qualter, R Leonard, P Creaven; Morgan Duggan, Matt Duggan; D Burke (0-4, all frees), S Kavanagh, J Mannion (0-2); C Leonard, M Newell (0-4, two frees), PJ Fahy (0-1). Subs: L O'Flynn for Qualter, M Melia (0-1) for C Leonard, G Ford for M Duggan.

ST MARY'S: N Walsh; J Martyn, D Keane, C Walsh; A Collery, N Murray, P Leonard; J Campbell (0-1), P Mullen; M Bree, P Bree, N Smith; J Davey, M Breheny (0-7, two frees), D Caffrey (0-1, free). Subs: R Bree (0-2) for Smith.

Referee: B McCormack (Roscommon).