Salthill men hang on for victory after bursting out of the traps

Kilconly 2-9

Despite a lightning start from Salthill / Knocknacarra, this game went down to the wire as both sides sought to avoid a drop into the relegation battle. In truth, the seasiders made tough work of a match during which they created enough opportunities to win the game twice over.

The game was also noteworthy as it saw former Connacht and Ireland rugby star, Gavin Duffy, play his first championship game for Salthill/Knocknacarra. While the Ballina native didn’t stand out on the day, it was a landmark game in his efforts to switch codes and play his way onto James Horan’s Mayo team.

Seán Armstrong Snr made seven changes from the Salthill/Knocknacarra side that lost to An Cheathrú Rua in the opening round and they seemed to work a treat as his team looked incomparable to the one which struggled so badly against the Gaeltacht side.

Salthill/Knocknacarra needed just 15 minutes to outscore what they had racked up in the full hour in the previous round as they raced into a 2-4 to 0-1 lead against a Kilconly side that were struggling to cope with their pace. In fairness to the North Galway team, they rallied well and will be disappointed that they could not push on in the closing stages of the second half after drawing level.

The winners signalled their attacking intent as early as the opening 20 seconds as Gary Cox and Seán Armstrong combined to set up Aonghus Callanan for the game’s first score. Cox was then presented with his side’s first goal chance of the afternoon, but he sliced his left-footed effort high and wide of the near post.

The 2012 county champions were not left to rue the miss for long as Kilconly were cut open by a flowing attacking move which saw Andrew Butler and Conor Halloran combine before the latter set up Seán Armstrong, who finished neatly past Dylan Steede. Armstrong soon added another point before a Michael Murphy free opened Kilconly’s account after 12 minutes.

The Salthill/Knocknacarra onslaught did not relent, however, as they hit another 1-2 in the following four minutes. Armstrong grabbed his second goal of the game after being set up by his brother Gearóid, before points from Andrew Butler and Gary Cox extended their lead to nine, 2-4 to 0-1.

At this point, the fear was that Kilconly would be annihilated but Jarlath Jennings’ men managed to keep their composure. A patient attacking move was rewarded when Michael Murphy got his second point of the afternoon before another free from Murphy in the 22nd minute seemed to steady the ship.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.