Sheridan points way in Salthill's Co. title triumph at Junior A level
Date Published: {J}
Salthill-Knocknacarra 0-14 Ballinasloe 1-6
Noel Carney
ON a great day for Salthill-Knocknacarra, their Junior A footballers overcame the difficulty of playing with only 14 men for most of the game to deservedly clinch the county title by comfortably holding off the determined challenge of Ballinasloe at Tuam Stadium last Saturday and, in the process, completed a fine double as their B side had earlier been crowned champions at their level.
The city club was dealt a cruel blow after ten minutes when their young full-forward Gearóid Armstrong was ordered off by referee Shane Hehir, who consulted with his umpires following an off the ball scuffle that left Ballinasloe full-back Keith Kelly needing treatment for a facial injury. The odds had then swung firmly in the East Galway team’s favour.
Yet Ballinasloe, for all their wonderful spirit and commitment were unable to avail of their numerical advantage and instead it was Salthill-Knocknacarra who were able to build a 0-7 to 0-2 lead towards the end of the first half, chiefly through the impeccable free-taking of Maurice Sheridan, before Billy Goode gave the Black and Amber lads a life-ine with a late goal.
Sheridan, a club legend since captaining the team to their unforgettable All-Ireland triumph in 2006, drove over five superbly judged placed balls in that first period and those scores, allied to efforts from play by Noel Tyrrell and Colin Sheridan gave the Seasiders their seven scores for the half hour while their opponents, in contrast, struggled to make any impact on a strong Salthill defence.
Ballinasloe struggled to get into top gear from the start and were already three down to a brace of Sheridan frees and a neat one from play by Noel Tyrrell when Paul Whelehan converted a free for them that was brought closer to goal by the referee due to dissent. Gearoid Armstrong’s sending off on a straight red card for a foul on former Galway All-Ireland winning minor star Keith Kelly quickly followed and that should have lifted their opponents.
For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.