Galway SFC Final: Salthill edge out Maigh Cuilinn

Bon Secours Hospital Galway Senior Football Championship Final

Salthill-Knocknacarra 2-12 Maigh Cuilinn 1-14

By Billy Coss at Pearse Stadium

A sensational Tomo Culhane goal in the dying seconds saw Salthill-Knocknacarra dethrone Maigh Cuilinn in one of the most dramatic finishes in Galway Senior Football Championship final history.

The holders had wiped out a six-point second half deficit and looked set to retain the Frank Fox Cup for the first time when they forged ahead with a towering Peter Cooke two-pointer.

But in a finale for the ages, Salthill-Knocknacarra launched one last sweeping attack that went through John Maher and man of the match Matthew Thompson before super sub Culhane, bringing his return to 1-6, held his nerve to slide home the defining score.

It had all looked so different in the opening half, however. Salthill-Knocknacarra were aided by the considerable elements but failed to raise a flag of any description until wing-back Mark Mannion opened their account in the 25th minute.

By then Maigh Cuilinn had four points on the board, all from the in-form Dessie Conneely, at the Árus Bóthar na Trá end. But it proved a turning point as Culhane, introduced in the 21st minute, thumped over a pair of two-pointers either side of a free to leave the interval scoreline at 0-6 to 0-4 in his side's favour.

Advantage Maigh Cuilinn. Or, so it seemed with the wind at their backs for the second half. Salthill-Knocknacarra had other ideas, though, and outscored their opponents by 1-3 to two points in a blistering opening five minutes after the restart.

Colm Finnerty answered Conneely's fifth point of the contest and after Paddy Kitt and Matthew Thompson efforts extended the gap to three, Finnerty proceeded to double it when finishing Salthill-Knocknacarra's opening goal to make it 1-9 to 0-5 on 35 minutes.

Though Niall Walsh and Conneely, Maigh Cuilinn's top scorers in the championship, replied with a run of scores, Salthill-Knocknacarra remained firmly in the ascendancy with a 1-12 to 0-9 lead entering the final quarter thanks to points from captain Daniel O'Flaherty, Culhane (free) and Thompson.

But they would enter a 17-minute barren spell during which time Cathal Clancy's side eroded the deficit. White and orange flags from Walsh came before Paul Kelly rattled the net in the 56th minute after Owen Gallagher struck the woodwork.

1-12 apiece and it was all on the line in the thrilling closing minutes until Cooke appeared to have settled the issue with a pure strike from 50 metres.

However, Salthill-Knocknacarra and Culhane would have the final say with a 62nd minute goal that tilted the balance in the most dramatic fashion and secured a fourth title for the city club.

Scorers for Salthill-Knocknacarra: Tomo Culhane 1-6 (2tp, 2f); Colm Finnerty 1-1; Matthew Thompson 0-2; Paddy Kitt, Mark Mannion and Daniel O'Flaherty 0-1 each.

Scorers for Maigh Cuilinn: Dessie Conneely 0-6 (1tp, 2f); Niall Walsh 0-5 (1tp); Paul Kelly 1-0; Peter Cooke 0-2 (tp); Owen Gallagher 0-1.

SALTHILL-KNOCKNACARRA: Ruairi Lavelle; Dara Conneely, Damien Kiely, Evan Wynne; Paddy Kitt, Aaron Mannion, Mark Mannion; John Maher, Michael Kitt; Cathal Sweeney, Matthew Thompson, Mikey Mullery; Colm Finnerty, Rob Finnerty, Robert Walzer. Subs: Cian O’Toole for Paddy Kitt (temporary, 16-21) & for Mullery (HT), Tomo Culhane for Walzer (21), Daniel O'Flaherty for Aaron Mannion (HT), Daniel Hoare for Sweeney (52), Mikey Culhane for Michael Kitt (60).

MAIGH CUILINN: Nevin O’Donnell; Mark Hynes, Eoghan Kelly, Conor Corcoran; Aidan Claffey, Sean Kelly, Sean O’Connor; Paul Kelly, Ger Davoren; Johnny Moloney, Niall Walsh, Peter Cooke; Fionn McDonagh, Fiachra McDonagh, Dessie Conneely. Subs: Owen Gallagher for Fiachra McDonagh (HT), James McLaughlin for Moloney (39), Fiachra McDonagh for Fionn McDonagh (52).

REFEREE: Shane Curley.