St MichaelÕs comeback falls short as Seasiders advance to quarter finals

Salthill-Knocknacarra 0-13St Michael’s 0-12

Mike Rafferty

For the second time in a matter of weeks, Salthill-Knocknacarra got the better of St Michael’s in the Claregalway Hotel Senior Football Championship, but on this occasion it was much more of a contest as the winners did just about enough to get over the line.

The margin was eight points when they first met, as the Westside team hardly ever got out of the starting blocks, but this time around four points was the biggest gap that was opened in a contest that ebbed and flowed from end to end.

In the main it was the boot of Sean Armstrong that carried them to victory, as his contribution of seven points was crucial to their success. However, five of that tally came from placed balls and it must be said that he had to work extremely hard for his two scores from play, as he was very well marshalled by Alan Glynn throughout.

However matters could have ended so differently if Michael’s had completed the almost perfect recovery, as they came from four points down to narrow the margin to a point with the game deep in additional time.

A 45 was to be their final lifeline, but the effort of Eddie Hoare was short and the quick shrill of Gerry Guinan’s whistle brought a relief to the winners, who failed to score in the final 15 minutes of action.

Throughout the game, Salthill-Knocknacarra proved to be the more consistent side and while there were the odd gaps on their scoring chart, they just appeared to have that ability to keep their fellow city side at bay.

After a solid start, they allowed Michael’s back into it and Peter Curran’s charges certainly took full advantage to open up a two point gap at 0-5 to 0-3 by the 18th minute, but then they hit the slumber button, as the winners tacked over three scores to give themselves a slender one point interval advantage.

Salthill-Knocknacarra were quickest out of the blocks on the restart as three further points stretched their advantage to four, before Michael’s ended a barren 27 minute scoreless spell, as the very impressive Conor Hoctor kick started a run of four unanswered scores that was to leave the sides level at nine points apiece after 45 minutes.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.