Salthill put county champions to the sword

Date Published: 09-Aug-2011

THE footballers of Salthill-Knocknacarra have never been too far away from the contenders list for the Galway senior football title and last Sunday at Corofin, they set out their stall in emphatic fashion with a ruthless demolition of county champions Killererin.

While there was a hunch doing the rounds last week that the loss of four key players might be too big of a burden for Killererin to carry, the sheer scale of this defeat was certainly unexpected, but Salthill were full value for their 14 point winning margin . . . indeed it could have been much more.

In the past, Salthill-Knocknacarra have had many experiences of nearly beating Killererin in crunch ties, but this time around when the chance came to put the North Galway side to the sword, there was no mercy shown. The city men were committed and clinical in their modus operandi.

Killererin over the years have built up a reputation for punching above their weight, a quality seen to great effect in last year’s county final win over Corofin, but this time their resources were stretched beyond breaking point and alas there was no be no great white knight to rescue them.

Gone from last year’s county final winning team were Tomás Fahy and Micheál Boyle (both in America), Jonathan Keane (injured) and Tommie Joyce (retired) – the personnel resources just weren’t there in the small parish of Barnaderg to fill those key gaps.

They also caught Salthill-Knocknacarra in a red hot streak. Right from the opening jousts for possession, it was obvious that the men from the western fringe of the city, meant business.

There was a vigour, work ethic and sharpness about them that Killererin just couldn’t match.

For the full match review see this week’s Sentinel.

See also Makeshift St James’ bow out – Page 29Students fail to exploit wasteful rivals – Page 28Barna left to rue missed chances – Page 27