Cremin goal is crucial as St Michael’s get past Piarsaigh at the death

St Michael’s 1-14 Na Piarsaigh 2-9

St Michael’s had to dig deep in Páirc Uí Rinn last night before securing their place in the semi-final of the PIFC.

They trailed by two points at the break but a second-half goal from Domhnall Cremin helped them on their way.

With the wind at their backs, they started the brighter, racing into a three-point lead with points from Shane O’Keeffe, Andrew Murphy, and Cremin.

Na Piarsaigh found their groove eight minutes in when Alan Hogan converted from a placed ball, and they almost found the net but Patrick Rourke’s shot was saved by Martin Burke.

It wasn’t long before they did get the better of Burke when captain Shane Forde raced through the middle and planted low for the northside city team to take the lead, 1-2 to 0-4.

Points from Tadhg Deasy and Keith Hegarty edged St Michael’s to the front but a second goal from Na Piarsaigh put them in the ascendancy. It came after Rourke found Padraig Guest with a long delivery out of defence and the corner-forward made no mistake. They took a 2-3 to 0-7 lead to the dressing-room.

St Michael’s drew level three times during the fourth quarter, but Na Piarsaigh were relentless not allowing them get in front. However, St Michael’s made the breakthrough when a free from Tadhg Deasy was kept in play by Cremin and he buried past Kieran Waters, 1-12 to 2-6.

In the remaining quarter, Na Piarsaigh cut the gap to one but a fine score from substitute Eoghan Buckley in stoppage time got St Michael’s over the line. They await the winners of today’s quarter-final between Cill na Martra and Kanturk.

Scorers for St Michael’s: D Cremin 1-2, T Deasy 0-4 (0-2 f, 0-2 45), E Hegarty (0-1 f), A Murphy 0-2 each, K Hegarty, E Buckley, B Cain, S O’Keeffe 0-1 each.

Na Piarsaigh: A Hogan 0-4 f, P Guest, S Forde 1-0 each, K Buckley 0-2 (0-1 f), E Sheehan, C O’Mahony, G Joyce 0-1 each.

St MICHAEL’S: M Burke; S Keating, R Dineen, O O’Sullivan; T Lenihan, A O’Callaghan, D Meaney; E Hickey, A Murphy; D Lenihan, E Hegarty (c), K Hegarty; T Deasy, D Cremin, S O’Keeffe.

Subs: D Cormack for S Keating (ht), B Cain for O O’Sullivan (ht), E Buckley for E Hickey (53), A Hennessy for D Lenihan (62).

NA PIARSAIGH: K Waters; D Bowen, E Moynihan, E Gunning; D Maguire, P Rourke, A Higgins; E Sheehan, S Forde (c); K Buckley, C O’Mahony, D Gunning; P Guest, A Hogan, G Joyce.

Subs: G Healy for D Bowen (35), K Forde for D Gunning, E Hanifin for G Joyce (both 46), E Sheehan for P Guest (50), A Keating for D Maguire (55).

Referee: Eamonn Sheehy (Newcestown).