Andrew Flynn wants his St Attracta’s side to ‘go on and win’ All Ireland

St Attracta’s senior girls joint-manager Andrew Flynn cut a relieved figure on Tuesday afternoon as his side reached the All Ireland final with a 2-1 win over St Mary’s of Midleton in the semi-final at John O’Sullivan Park in Ennis.

The Tubbercurry school needed extra-time to overcome their opponents, who had taken the lead early in the first half.

Flynn’s side equalised in the dying stages of ordinary time, with the winner coming early in extra-time.

“Thank God we got through it,” Flynn said afterwards. “I know exactly how they feel, we were the same last year. Lost in extra-time.

“It feels like vindication and redemption for us after last year.”

Attracta’s were guilty of squandering a number of  really good chances early on, with St Mary’s scoring from the only opportunity they created in that first half.

He added: “We feel we had most of the play, a lot of chances, we didn’t take the chances, they got that break and went 1-0 up.

“Eventually we got one and went to extra-time. Just thank God we got through.”

“We’ve had those games before. When it comes to this level, they had the one chance and they took it.

“On another day they could have won that game 1-0. We had so many chances, thankfully that one fell.

“We grew into it in extra-time. We felt a goal was coming at this stage.”

In the dying stages of ordinary time, St Attracta’s started to push on, and having scored that equaliser to take the game to extra-time, the momentum was certainly with them.

They applied all the pressure in extra-time, and thankfully it worked as they found a winner four minutes into the first half of extra-time.

"Once that goal went in, you’re searching for it and eventually it went in. Then the confidence grew and as we went into extra-time, I feel they got stronger.

"I felt that we were team that was going to win it if it was going to be won. They obviously could have got a breakaway goal. Thank God it was us. 

“We’re delighted to get a chance to be there. It was devastating last year. Who knows who we’re going to play, we’re delighted to be there.

"We want to go and win it. Today was a semi-final, it’s great to win it. But that’s no good unless you can go and win it.”

The All Ireland final is scheduled to take place on Wednesday February 22^nd, with all details to be confirmed later.