How was it decided that Ynys Môn had reached the men’s football semi-finals? Here’s how…..

While totally overjoyed, one of the first things I said on Tuesday when discovering Ynys Môn men had qualified for the Island Games football semi-finals was…..’why?’

Naturally, the three group winners – Isle of Man, Jersey and Bermuda – would go through, but how would the fourth semi-finalist be decided?

It made sense that the best runners-up would advance, but how would this be ascertained when one group had four teams and the other two were made up of three?

In Group A, second-place hosts Orkney had 6 points from 3 games, Group B saw Shetland Islands on 2 from 2 and in Group C, Ynys Môn were on 4 from 2.

It was here I discovered how the next step was established, courtesy of Ynys Môn coach Gerwyn Roberts.

In the group of four, the second-place team’s result against the bottom side would be expunged.

Runners-up Orkney had beaten basement side Froya 3-0, so that outcome became extinct.

That left Orkney now on three points (6-3=3), Shetland Islands with 2 and our beloved Ynys Môn with….4!

So, it is our boys who take on the Isle of Man on Thursday, while Bermuda will come up against Jersey in the other semi.

SCHEDULE – THURSDAY, JULY 17

MEN’S SEMI-FINALS

Isle of Man v Ynys Môn – 5 pm at KGS Pitch 1 – Showcase

Jersey v Bermuda – 5 pm at KGS Pitch 2 – Meadow