Hanley knows Salthill Knocknacarra must step it up for St Brigid’s
THERE will be no place for Salthill Knocknacarra footballers to hide in Sunday's Connacht Club senior football quarter-final at Pearse Stadium (3:15).
For starters, the Galway champions will be back on home soil while their clash with the might of St Brigid's of Roscommon is being covered live on TG4.
Fresh from a hard-earned win over Ballianmore Sean O'Heslins of Leitrim at the weekend, team manager Finian Hanley knows that erratic display won't be good enough to dethrone the reigning provincial champions.
“That won't get near St Brigid's. They have been in two of the last three All-Ireland finals. We know they're quality. We'd get a hiding playing like that against them.
“Everyone's watching St Brigid's and everyone's watching Cuala. But we have to bring something a bit different next weekend. We are going to have to bring huge energy. We won't be found wanting for sure.”
Thanks to goals from the Finnerty brothers, Colm and Rob, and Tomo Culhane, along with an outstanding display of attacking football from wing back Cathal Sweeney, Salthill-Knocknaccara overvcame the Leitrim champions by a four point margin, 3-16 to 2-15.
The previous day, however, St Brigid's were laying waste to St Mary's of Sligo, winning by a whopping 21 points. Ben O'Carroll, Bobby Nugent and Conor Hand did the scoring damage, but key defender Pearse Frost was forced to retire with an arm injury.
Former Oranmore-Maree keeper Conor Carroll is between their posts, while they also boast plenty of experience in the likes of Brian Stack and Ruaidhri Fallon.
Hanley was disappointed that his players took their ‘foot of the gas’ in Carrick last Sunday, but believes the team will respond positively to the task of trying to take down St Brigid's.
Salthill Knocknacarra are quoted at 2/1 to carry the day which sums up the scale of their challenge.