It's Salthill on the double

Date Published: {J}

 THERE was success on the double for Salthill/Knocknacarra on Saturday as the football club’s junior A and B teams both prevailed in a double-header of county championship finals at Tuam Stadium.

There was heartache, however, for another city club St James’ who relinquished their minor A crown when losing by just a point to Corofin in a lack lustre county final at Pearse Stadium on Sunday.

Salthill/Knocknacarra will ply their trade in the intermediate grade next season after their junior A outfit beat Ballinasloe on a score line of 0-14 to 1-6 to secure the Irish Purity Challenge Cup.

Despite having just 14 men for around 50 minutes of the match after full-forward Gearóid Armstrong was red-carded for an off-the-ball incident early on, the West Board champions responded well and were heading to the break with a commanding 0-7 to 0-2 lead thanks in the main to five frees from club All-Ireland winner Maurice Sheridan.

Ballinasloe’s Billy Goode grabbed a goal just before halftime to give the East Galway club some hope in the second half but, despite their numerical disadvantage, it was Salthill/Knocknacarra who edged the second-half with points from county hurling star Aonghus Callanan, Noel Tyrell, Sheridan and substitute Enda Dunne.

Salthill/Knocknacarra earned promotion but because they already have a senior club, it is Ballinasloe who advance through to play the Mayo champions in the Connacht series at this grade.

Salthill/Knocknacarra will be represented at junior A again next year after Tadhg Begley’s junior B outfit secured the first half of the double for the seasiders when they pulled through with two points to spare in a far more evenly contested county final against Tuam Stars.

The winners took a 0-7 to 0- 4 lead at half-time with the scores coming from the boots of Colin McCaul, Gearóid Ó Leighinn, Anthony Donnellan and Mark Sheehan, who scored from play as well as two long range efforts from a free and sideline.

That lead was stretched to five through white flags from O Leighinn and Eoin Burke but Tuam Stars hit back, and narrowed the gap to 0-9 to 0-7.

Cian Fadden stretched the lead to three but Tuam’s Michael Gormally set-up a tense final few minutes when he levelled the match with a well taken goal.

The decisive score came from substitute Johnny Martin was the man on the end of a lightening Salthill/Knocknacarra movement that restored their three-point cushion and despite Tuam’s determination, the city club held on for victory to secure the PJ Kelly Memorial Cup.

There was heartache for the Renmore/Mervue club St James’ on Sunday at Pearse Stadium as the heroics of county minor panellist and midfielder Aaron Connolly wasn’t enough h to secure victory.

For full reports see this week’s Sentinel

Sheridan points the way ... Page 31Martin goal helps Salthill to glory ... Page 30Connolly’s heroics fail ... Page 29