Archive News
Armstrong points way as Salthill clear hurdle
Date Published: {J}
Salthill 1-7
Claregalway 0-7
Declan Tierney
It was a case of trying to roll back the clock for both Salthill and Claregalway in the first round of the senior football championship and this was achieved with only limited success when the city side carved out an unconvincing victory at Tuam Stadium.
Salthill are still trying to emulate the success of their side four years when they captured an All-Ireland club title while two former Mayo stars were attempting to boost the chances of Claregalway advancing to the next round but with little success.
While the seasiders came away with a morale boosting victory, they really are not a patch on the side which strode to victory in Croke Park in 2006 – although, with a favourable draw, they could well make it through another couple of stages.
Meanwhile, Claregalway were hoping that “new recruits” James Nallen and David Heaney might catapult them to being serious championship contenders, but it is perhaps too much to expect from the ex-Mayo players who certainly never stood out although Heaney was busy in the second half.
In fairness, Salthill should have won this match by a far more convincing margin than the scoreline suggests. They had three other goal chances, but one was blocked by Claregalway ‘keeper Brian O’Donoghue and the other two smashed against the woodwork.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.