AIB Connacht Club SFC semi-final: Salthill-Knocknacarra dethrone St. Brigid's
John Maher of Salthill-Knocknacarra in action against Bobby Nugent of St Brigid's during the AIB Connacht GAA Senior Club Football Championship final match between St Brigid's and Salthill-Knocknacarra at ECC Pearse Stadium in Galway. Photo by Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile.
AIB Connacht Club SFC semi-final
Salthill-Knocknacarra 0-14 St. Brigid’s 1-10
By Billy Coss at ECC Pearse Stadium
A sensational Mark Mannion two-pointer crowned a magnificent second half from Salthill-Knocknacarra that proved just enough to dethrone holders St. Brigid's in a pulsating Connacht Senior Club Football Championship semi-final.
Just as they did in an unforgettable Galway decider with Maigh Cuilinn, Finian Hanley's side defied their underdog status to land a match-winner deep in injury-time as Mannion's sweetly struck effort sailed between the posts at the Árus Bóthar na Trá end and turned a slender deficit into a priceless lead.
The drama was only getting started, however, as St. Brigid's conjured late chances to snatch victory. 'Keeper Conor Carroll’s attempt off the deck from range struck the right upright before Paul McGrath’s follow-up was smothered by Salthill-Knocknacarra ‘keeper Ruairí Lavelle seconds before referee Paul Lydon's final whistle sounded.
Similar to their county final showing, Salthill-Knocknacarra were second-best for most of the opening half and trailed by eight points at one juncture. St. Brigid's duo Ben O'Carroll and Shane Cunnane (free) were both on target from outside the 40-metre arc, while Brian Derwin picked off a couple of points in building a 1-7 to 0-2 lead on 25 minutes. Their goal was an opportunist finish from Conor Hand, picking off a Lavelle restart intended for Evan Wynne before slotting home in the 19th minute.
Aaron Mannion had contributed Salthill-Knocknacarra's only two scores until Matthew Thompson and Rob Finnerty halved the deficit to 1-7 to 0-4 at the break. It was very much advantage St. Brigid's.
Salthill-Knocknacarra sprung captain Daniel O'Flaherty before the change of ends and teenager Cillian O'Toole at the interval. Both injected pace and energy and were on target either side of another from Finnerty, while Derwin's third of the afternoon provided a lone response for Brigid's as the tide was starting to turn in favour of the hosts.
Salthill-Knocknacarra's half-back line was terrific and contributed six points from play. Cathal Sweeney was at the heart of it and thundered into the game with back-to-back scores that cut the margin to 1-8 to 0-9 by the 44th minute.
Determined play from sub Eddie Nolan set up Ronan Stack for a much-needed St. Brigid's score before Salthill-Knocknacarra delivered another surge with Finnerty twice on target either side of a golden goal chance that Brian Conlon blazed over the crossbar.
With John Maher outstanding at midfield, the city club looked the more likely but it was St. Brigid's who hit the front when Mark Daly won a free that Ben O'Carroll converted to take his return up to four points in the first of three scheduled added minutes.
The Kiltoom-based club looked primed to retain their grip on their provincial title. That was until Mark Mannion stepped up to the plate for Salthill-Knocknacarra with a score for the ages before the woodwork and 'keeper Lavelle conspired to deny St. Brigid's at the death.
Salthill-Knocknacarra march on to a Connacht final with Castlebar Mitchels.
Scorers for Salthill-Knocknacarra: Rob Finnerty 0-4 (1f); Aaron Mannion, Cathal Sweeney and Mark Mannion (tp) 0-2 each; Matthew Thompson, Cillian O'Toole, Daniel O'Flaherty and Brian Conlon 0-1 each.
Scorers for St. Brigid’s: Ben O'Carroll 0-4 (1tp, 1f), Brian Derwin 0-3, Conor Hand 1-0, Shane Cunnane 0-2 (tpf), Ronan Stack 0-1.
Salthill-Knocknacarra: Ruairí Lavelle; Dara Conneely, Evan Wynne, Damien Kiely; Mark Mannion, Cathal Sweeney, Aaron Mannion; John Maher, Michael Kitt; Mikey Mullery, Matthew Thompson, Paddy Kitt; Colm Finnerty, Rob Finnerty, Tomo Culhane. Subs: Daniel O'Flaherty (captain) for Paddy Kitt (23), Cillian O’Toole for Mullery (HT), Brian Conlon for Colm Finnerty (HT), Daniel Hoare for Michael Kitt (51), Rob Walzer for Conlon (60+2).
St. Brigid’s: Conor Carroll; Robbie Dolan, Ruairí Smith, Micheál Sugrue; Ruaidhrí Fallon (captain), Brian Stack, Ronan Stack; Mark Daly, Shane Cunnane; Brian O’Hara Duggan, Conor Hand, Bobby Nugent; Ben O’Carroll, Ciarán Sugrue, Brian Derwin. Subs: Eddie Nolan for Ciarán Sugrue (38), Paul McGrath for Cunnane (41), Charlie O’Carroll for Nugent (55).
Referee: Paul Lydon (Mayo).
