St Gall's progress to last eight

Conor McGourty was on the scoresheet for St Gall's

St Gall's beat Mayobridge 0-12 to 2-5 in Sunday's Ulster club football preliminary round tie at Newry to book their place in the quarter-finals.

Ronan Sexton scored a goal after just 22 seconds but St Gall's replied with six unanswered points and eventually led 0-7 to 1-1 at the interval.

Mayobridge edged ahead with a Benny Coulter goal and led 2-3 to 0-7 and 2-4 to 0-9 before the Antrim men responded.

Points by CJ McGourty (2) and Kevin McGourty helped St Gall's to victory.

Mayobridge enjoyed the advantage of the breeze in the first half and got off to the best possible start with that early Sexton goal, Coulter the provider.

Kevin McGourty was fortunate to escape with just a yellow card after a fracas and then Karl Stewart pointed for the Antrim champions.

Further points from CJ McGourty, Kevin Niblock, CJ McGourty again, Terry O'Neill and Stewart saw St Gall's take control before Noel Sexton replied in the 26th minute to stop the rot.

Sean Kelly then got on the scoresheet to give his side a three-point advantage at half-time.

Mayobridge were dominant early in the second period, Noel Sexton recording a point before Michael Walsh set up Coulter for the Down men's second goal.

Noel Sexton added a point from a free, Anto Healy replied, but Kevin Niblock was on target for St Gall's.

Coulter then knocked the ball over the bar but CJ and Kevin McGourty then weighed in with points and Noel Sexton's late contribution proved a mere consolation as St Gall's edged home by a point.