It was important to top section and get that wee break - McCabe

And that now secures Adrian Brennan’s outfit three weeks' respite and will also afford the Pearse Park outfit the chance to run the rule over possible semi-final opposition.

The south-west outfit were pushed all the way by Damian Devaney’s visitors last Sunday but scraped over the line, 0-15 to 1-11 to secure their passage to the last four alongside the other group winners, Four Masters.

Full-back Kian McCabe admitted after that after a hectic three-week period with back-to-back outings, the squad will now look forward to getting through some really good work on the training pitch.

“We’re very happy. It’s been a really competitive championship so far, right across the board, so we’re delighted now to get this wee break.

“It’s been week on week in the group stages and it’ll just allow us time to sort of take stock and hopefully clear up a few niggles.

“We’ll be able to use the weekends in between now for collective training and that should be a big plus. With lads scattered all around the country people have been putting in big efforts midweek.

“So this will take some of that pressure off”.

He added: “MacCumhaills came up today knowing that a win would see them go straight through to the semi-finals. We were in that same boat.

“So there was a nice edge to it. They are a very good team, really well organised. It went right to the wire.

“We coughed up a few possessions; we made some mistakes. They were the same. It could really have gone either way.

“I have to mention Callum Cassidy’s block there right at the end. It was crucial as who knows where that shot could have ended up.

“We did work really hard there, defensively, and saw it out but it was a little too close for comfort. It was just a relief to get across the line at the end”.

The U-21 competition, at the time of year, and with some obvious obstacles in its way, can often be maligned.

“Whoever it may be, we have full trust in Adrian, Don (Early) and the management team that we’ll get through some good work in between.

“And when we do know what is coming our way in the semi-final, they’ll quickly get a plan in place.

“It’s been such a tight championship that whatever comes our way will be formidable.

“But we’re loving it. The weather has been really kind and it’s brilliant to be playing games and winning.

“It’s a pleasure to come to training and get through the work. We have lads making big treks to get back up home from college and there is a real togetherness there when you see that.

“We have lads coming from Belfast Molloy. Big Bomber (Eoin Gallagher) is down in Portlaoise with the ESB.

“Everyone is putting in a real effort and thankfully so far we’ve been getting the reward for that”.