Football shocks galore

AN explosive start to the Galway senior football championship brought several shocks in the preliminary round, with city teams very much the talk of the weekend . . . but for wildly conflicting reasons.

Title holders Salthill/Knocknacarra were way below par and despite Seán Armstrong landing ten points, the city outfit deservedly lost to the 2012 intermediate champions, Carna/Caiseal on a score line of 2-6 to 0-11. Cathal McGinley’s men must now regroup for the back-door qualifiers where they face Micheál Breathnach, who were humbled by title-favourites Corofin on a score of 3-17 to 1-7.

St Michael’s, on the other hand, sprung one of the upsets of the weekend, deservedly toppling six-time county champions, Killererin, in Corofin on Sunday.

Former county star Padraic Joyce was dismissed in the second half for two yellow card offences as St Michael’s – shorn of a handful of quality players through emigration – cruised to a 2-10 to 0-8 triumph, with former Galway midfielder Eddie Hoare one of the heroes for the city men. St Michael’s win guarantees them senior status again in 2014 and gives them safe passage to round two of the championship.

Though not as big a surprise, St James’ were expected to account for Caltra in Tuam Stadium on Saturday, but that game, the first of ten championship matches, set the tone of the upsets to come over the weekend – county talisman Michael Meehan proved the difference on the day, scoring 1-5 in Caltra’s 2-11 to 2-9 success.

St James’ looked to be in the driving seat, four points up with 20 minutes to go but Meehan turned on the style to see the underdogs over the line. The Renmore/Mervue/Ballybane outfit has been drawn against Caherlistrane in the backdoor – a tricky task given that Caherlistrane were unlucky to come a cropper against Milltown by just a point. 

Elsewhere, Barna, as expected, suffered a six points defeat, 0-13 to 0-7, at the hands of An Cheathrú Rua. Given that they failed to score from play over the hour at Inverin, Pat Fallon has a lot of work to do if they are to avoid a second consecutive year in a relegation dog-fight.

They face Mountbellew/Moylough in the qualifiers after Val Daly’s men were turned over by Leitir Mór, in one of the other surprises of the weekend. Kilconly had three points to spare, (2-12 to 2-9) over Moycullen, who had Gareth Bradshaw sent off, and they now have a tricky test against Annaghdown through the backdoor.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.