Salthill are the new kings

Dara Bradley

A more physical and mobile Salthill/Knocknacarra outfit powered their way to winning the 2012 Galway senior football championship final at Pearse Stadium on Sunday, consigning Tuam Stars to tag of ‘bridesmaid’ for the second year in-a-row.

It was by no means his best shift in a blue and navy jersey but centre-forward Seán Armstrong was still a cut above the rest of the attackers on show as he pointed the way for the city side, chipping in with seven points, including five frees – the county star was essentially the difference between the two sides.

Stalemate looked the likely outcome for long periods of this county showpiece but slowly the city men ground down the Tuam resistance, which buckled in the last ten minutes of the second half when Gerry Hughes’ charges outscored their opponents by five points to nil in a storming finish to emerge 0-12 to 0-7 victors.

A far greater work rate over the hour, epitomised by the honesty of the likes of midfielders Gary Cox and David Tierney, and the two forwards who had roving roles, Alan Kerins and Conor Healy, was the key ingredient that set Salthill on their way to winning the club’s third ever Frank Fox Cup.

Salthill were the team all through this year’s campaign with the meanest defence – they haven’t conceded a championship goal now in five matches – and again on Sunday, in rain-soaked and muddy Salthill, the seasiders’ backs were doggishly aggressive, not giving an inch to Tuam’s main threats up front, Jamie Murphy, Conor Doherty and Shane Curtin.

You’d have to feel sorry for Tuam, the favourites’ tag not resting too well on their shoulders, as they lost their second consecutive county final but the harsh reality was that the North Galway club only scored two points in the second half, which is hardly deserving of silverware.

It certainly wasn’t a day for attacking flair and Salthill’s star marksman, Seamie Crowe, aside from a sweet point late-on, was well marshaled by full-back Ian McGough although Brian Conlon was a real livewire while 26-years-old Armstrong was composed and clinical throughout to win his second county medal.

Captain Finian Hanley led by example and was an impervious rock at full-back all day, ably assisted by the tigerish corner-back Cian Begley – the duo snuffed out Tuam’s two-man inside forward line throughout – while wing-back Derek O’Flaherty provided a bit of oomph in the first line of defence and his ball-winning abilities also gave Salthill an edge in the middle third of the field.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.