Crowe proves the Salthill matchwinner in dramatic finale

Salthill-Knocknacarra 1-9 Tuam Stars 1-8

THERE was a pulsating end to an otherwise error ridden game which contained some refereeing howlers as reigning county champions Salthill-Knocknacarra scored an injury time winner at Tuam Stadium on Sunday evening.

It may have been a repeat of last year’s county final but that billing certainly was not reflected in the performance of either side with Salthill-Knocknacarra making slightly fewer errors than their opponents Tuam Stars who must have thought that they had forced extra time.

The Stars were four points down with three minutes remaining when they were awarded a controversial penalty which they converted and then added another spectacular point to equalise.

Extra time looked on the cards but in the next passage of play, Sean Armstrong provided the crucial pass for Seamie Crowe to become the hero of the hour as he snatched a deserved winner in the end of a gruelling game in which Tuam had very little to offer up front.

Most of their movements involved at least a dozen meaningless passes that invariably ended up in the hands of Salthill players who, it must be said, were also guilty of some shocking handling errors. Even when Tuam did get chances, their shooting was appalling, clocking up seven wides in the first half alone and at least four of these opportunities should have been scores.

There is no doubt that in the possession stakes, Tuam had the vast majority in the opening period but many of their movements ended up Salthill cul-de-sacs and they just ran out of players to pass the ball to.

It was also a pretty poor day for referee Sean Hehir who penalised a Salthill player who was actually dragged down by Tuam defenders, then seemed to award Tuam a penalty when Noel Henry was grounded but, bizarrely, proceeded to allow the play to continue.