De Paor’s goal proves vital in Carraroe’s shock victory in Pearse Stadium

An Cheathrú Rua 1-4

Salthill/Knocknacarra 0-6

THERE was sure to have been a sense of déjà vu for many of the Salthill/Knocknacarra supporters in Pearse Stadium on Saturday afternoon. For the second year in succession, the 2012 County Champions have lost the opening round of the championship and for the second year in succession, it was a Connemara side that did the damage.

An Cheathrú Rua replace Carna Caiseal as the city side’s vanquishers as they came out in top in what was a dire contest, 1-4 to 0-6. The aesthetics of the game will matter little to the side who came into the tie as 10/3 outsiders, however, and An Cheathrú Rua showed just enough to declare them worthy winners.

The quality of the first half was so poor that it appeared that the game’s most noteworthy moment had come before the ball was even thrown in when former Connacht Rugby full-back, Gavin Duffy, was named among the Salthill substitutes. While the second half improved slightly, there was still little to get the small crowd in Pearse Stadium excited.

Salthill  dominated the early exchanges of the game and they had a claim for a penalty as early as the fourth minute. Conor Hallaron spotted Gary Cox unmarked 20m out from goal and put the forward through on goal. An Cheathrú Rua goalkeeper Ciarán Mac Donnacha rushed out to meet the ball and collided heavily with Cox but the referee was happy that no infringement took place, despite Cox needing lengthy treatment from the physio.

Both teams had hit a couple of wides before the game’s first score came in the 15th minute. With Salthill/Knocknacarra still dominating the possession stakes, they were awarded a 21m free which Gearóid Ó Leidhinn duly converted to open the scoring and wake the umpires from their slumber.

The two sides were trying to implement a short-handpassing style but instead of keeping possession and waiting for gaps in the opposition to appear, both sets of players were continually carrying the ball into contact where they were inevitably dispossessed. An Cheathrú Rua finally clicked as a unit in the 19th minute as a neat move up the left wing, involving Ian Seoige, Mícheál Ó Brian and Cillín de Paor, saw the centre-forward shoot over from close range.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.