Ballintubber (Mayo) 3-10

St Brigid's (Roscommon) 1-13

Ballintubber are through to their first Connacht club SFC final after Cillian O'Connor's goal with nine minutes remaining sealed a hard-fought victory over St. Brigid's at Elvery's MacHale Park.

The Mayo champions led by 2-4 to 0-7 at the break thanks to goals from Padraic O'Connor and Alan Plunkett, but they had to withstand a second half comeback by the 2013 All-Ireland champions before All Star O'Connor's late strike sealed 'Tubber's place in the provincial decider against Galway's Corofin.

Pre-match favourites Brigid's opened up an early two-point lead through scores from Senan Kilbride and Frankie Dolan. Padraic O'Connor opened the winners' account from a '45' before Kilbride's second free restored the Kiltoom's side two-point advantage.

Alan Plunkett left the minimum in it again before Padraic O'Connor's 14th minute goal gave Ballintubber the lead for the first time, 1-2 to 0-3.

Cillian O'Connor made it a three-point game, only for efforts from Karol Mannion and Kilbride to leave just one in it again. However, a second Ballintubber goal from Plunkett in the 26th minute gave the locals a three-point cushion at the break.

Frankie Dolan kicked three points (two frees) in the opening six minutes of the second half to restore parity for Brigid's, but Alan Dillon replied with two to restore Ballintubber's advantage after 41 minutes. However, it looked like the five-in-a-row Roscommon champions were on their way to another Connacht final when Karol Mannion's goal edged them back in front. 

But Ballintubber kept their composure, responding with points from Padraic O'Connor, Alan Plunkett and Stephen Broderick before Cillian O'Connor's 51st minute goal settled it.

Ballintubber - B Walsh; B Murphy, C Hallinan, D Larkin; M Plunkett, R O'Connor, M Kelly; J Gibbons, S Broderick (0-1); D Coleman, D O'Connor, A Plunkett (1-2); A Dillon (0-2), C O'Connor (1-3, 0-2f), P O'Connor (1-2, 0-1'45). Subs: J Geraghty for M Kelly, D Summerville for D Coleman, P Earley for A Plunkett, R Geraghty for P O'Connor.

St Brigid's - S Curran; N Grehan, D Donnelly, N McInerney; R Kelly, R Stack, I Kilbride; K Mannion (1-1), P Kelly; G Dolan, C McHugh, E Egan; P Mulvihill (0-1), F Dolan (0-6, 3f), S Kilbride (0-4f). Subs: G Cunniffe for P Mulvihill, D Sheehy for R Kelly, A Gleeson (0-1) for C McHugh, P Mulvihill for E Egan, D Dolan for G Dolan.

Referee - R McBrien.

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