There was more relief than jubilation as St Mary's scraped through with a shaky display against Galwegians in Crowley Park to set themselves up with a semi-final date against Garryowen.

The Dubliners looked pedestrian for much of the match and it was only in the final quarter that they were able to notch a match-winning try, and rely on results elsewhere before having reason to celebrate.

The westerners showed pride aplenty, as they had St Mary's struggling to come back from a 109 half-time deficit.

Out-half Fergal Campion had kicked St Mary's ahead after eight minutes with a straightforward penalty from the 22, but for some in-your-face defence St Mary's never looked like crossing the try line.

Reddan touched down under the posts and out-half Eric Elwood added the simple conversion to give Galwegians a 7-3 lead after 12 minutes.

Campion succeeded with two of three efforts before Elwood responded with a penalty after 37 minutes to keep his side in front at the interval.

St Mary's realised the sense of urgency entering the final minutes and were finally rewarded after 75 minutes when they stretched the Galwegian cover after several phases with number eight, Victor Costello touching down for an unconverted match-winning try.

Scoring sequence: 8 mins - F Campion pen 0-3; 12 mins - A Reddan try, E Elwood con 7-3; 25 mins - Campion pen 7-6; 34 mins - Campion pen 7-9; 37 mins - Elwood pen 10-9; Half-time 10-9; 51 mins - Campion pen 10-12; 75 mins - Costello try 10-17.

Galwegians: W Ruane; P Duignan, A Reddan, M Murphy, N Carolan; E Elwood (capt), D Reddan; D Dobson, D Lee, M Finlay, G Heislip, J Duffy, B Gavin, G Dineen, J Casserly. Replacements: P Leahy for Dobson (half-time).

St Mary's: K Nowlan; J McWeeney, P McKenna, R McIlreavy, D Hickey; F Campion, C McGuinness; J Maher, P Smyth, P Coyle, S Jameson, D Bourke, T Brennan, M Cuddihy, V Costello. Replacements: R Ormond for McIlreavy (47 mins).

Referee: D Napier (Ulster).