Galway club Gaelic football championship

Micheál Breathnach recorded the shock of the weekend – and one of the big upsets of the Galway senior football championship this season – with a three point victory over below-par St James’.

The Connemara side ran out 4-10 to 2-13 winners to advance to the last 16 of the championship and send the city side crashing out of the race for the county title.

From semi-finalists last year to a fight for survival this year, it’s some fall from grace for St James’, who were many observers ‘dark horse’ for the Gaelic football championship.

They’ve too much quality to drop to intermediate and should stay in the senior ranks for next yea.

However, while one city side fell to Connemara opponents, another got the better of their rural opponents as Barna edged past An Cheathrú Rua on a 1-13 to 0-13 scoreline after extra time.

An Cheathre Rua led by three points as the final whistle approached, but they then got caught for the sucker-punch of a Declan Walsh goal to send the game into extra-time, and Barna ran out three point winners in the end.

Salthill-Knocknacarra stayed in the hunt for the county title with a 1-8 to 0-8 win over Caltra, with Sean Armstrong’s early goal proving to be the decisive score.

Caltra, boosted by the return to action of long-term injury victim Michael Meehan, never gave up the fight and yet never managed to edge in front after Armstrong opened the scoring with a well-taken goal for Salthill just five minutes in.

The quarter-final draw sees Salthill Knocknacarra or Michael Breathnach v Milltown; Barna or NUI Galway v Caherlistrane or Tuam Stars; Corofin v Mountbellew-Moylough; and St Michael’s v Annaghdown.

In the relegation series, St James’ will have to face Cortoon following their surprise defeat to Micheal Breathnach on a 4-10 to 2-13 scoreline on Friday evening.