St Thomas’ will be heading to Croke Park on St Patrick’s Day after they scraped over the challenge of Ruairi Og Cushendall in today’s semi-final at Parnell Park.

It finished 0-18 to 2-11 in the Galway side’s favour after corner-back David Sherry sent over the winning point deep into stoppage time.

Donal McNaughton had an opportunity to equalise from the resulting puc-out and force extra-time but went for goal and failed to find the target.

It was a thrilling climax to an entertaining penultimate stage contest.

The Galway champions were backed by the wind in the first-half and made the most of the elements to take a 0-13 to 1-3 lead into the break.

Neil McManus finished with a personal tally of 1-6 for Ruairi Og and his goal arrived via the penalty spot in the fourth minute.

Fergus McCambridge netted their second three pointer after the resumption but they were left bitterly disappointed at the final whistle.

Darragh Burke took the scoring honours for Kevin Lally’s side with 0-6 (4 frees) and they now await the winners of the second semi-final between Ballygunner and Ballyhale Shamrocks in the decider.

St Thomas' - G Murray; D Sherry (0-1), C Burke, C Mahoney; D Cooney, S Cooney (0-1f), F Burke; J Regan (0-2), D Burke; C Cooney (0-1), D Burke (0-6, 4f), B Burke (0-2); E Burke (0-3), B Farrell, K Burke (0-1). Subs: D McGlynn (0-1) for K Burke, S Skehill for B Farrell.

Ruairi Og Cushendall - E Gillan; S Delargy, M Burke, D Kearney; E Campbell (0-1), A Graffin, P Burke; F McCambridge (1-1), N McManus (1-6, 1-0pen, 0-4f, 0-2'65); R McCambridge, E McKillop, D McNaughton; P McGill (0-2), S McAfee (0-1), A Delargy. Subs: C Carson for R McCambridge, S Walsh for S Delargy.

Referee - P O'Dwyer.

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