New champions Salthill have scope to go further

Date Published: 17-Oct-2012

TUAM Stars could have been forgiven for thinking that they had most of the hard work done prior to last Sunday’s Galway senior football final at Pearse Stadium, especially after toppling champions Corofin in the county semi-final, but instead the club’s long wait since 1994 to regain the Frank Fox Cup continues – and the men in red can have absolutely no complaints.

Somewhat surprisingly rated the strong bookmaker favourites to carry the day, Galway’s most prolific winners of the county senior championship were simply second best in another rain-marred final against a Sean Armstrong inspired Salthill Knocknacarra team which finished in a blaze of glory to claim just the club’s third ever title.

With several of their key players not having the desired influence on the action, Tuam needed to have been in front at the interval having had the backing of the wind, but they were actually lucky to have retired level at five points each. The city outfit possessed a greater cutting edge up front, but failed to exploit two great goal scoring opportunities.

The first arrived after just three minutes when former Galway hurler David Tierney, Tomas Burke and Armstrong combined to put Brian Conlon in the clear, but the Salthill attacker blazed his effort just over the bar. Midway through the half, Tuam had another let off when Alan Kerins placed his effort just wide of the left hand post after hard working midfielder Gary Cox had done the spadework.

In contrast, the Stars were struggling to create opportunities against a Finian Hanley marshalled opposition defence. Donal Marley and Shane Curtin did land fine scores from play in a competitive opening-half, but only for three tremendous scores from frees from Curtin, last year’s finalists would have been adrift at the break.

Both teams were guilty of giving away needless frees and Tuam’s county player Garry O’Donnell was certainly in feisty mood in their defence, but it was a well organised and more cohesive Salthill unit which was already looking the better team. Tuam needed a good start to the second-half and while they held their own for much of the third quarter, vital early opportunities from Shane Gaffney and John Ross Bodkin (free) were spurned.

Bodkin did find the range from play and with Salthill goalkeeper Cormac Connolly doing excellently to deflect a dipping effort from Jamie Murphy effort over the crossbar in the 49th minute, Tuam were still on level terms with Armstrong (two frees) converting for Salthill. It was still either team’s match to win, but Tuam didn’t score again as their more convincing city rivals gradually pulled away to claim their first county title since 2005.

Armstrong, in particular, really stamped his authority on the final in the closing ten minutes. After Seamie Crowe sent Salthill into the lead following a first time delivery from Conor Healy, the team’s centre forward pointed from an acute angle before expertly sending over a long range free. In a low scoring contest, Tuam were never likely to pull back a three point deficit against the elements.

Instead, Salthill had their tails up and they finished the match off in style. Crowe hit the target from a close range free before Armstrong rounded up a penetrating 40 yards run with an inspirational score. It was a fitting conclusion to the final as he put an injury plagued few seasons behind him to emerge as the outstanding performer on the field. Armstrong’s haul of seven points, which was critical to Salthill’s triumph, and his work rate typified the overall industry of the new champions.

On Sunday’s evidence, Salthill have the capacity to at least mount a strong challenge for provincial honours. They have a touch of class about them and with the proper mindset in the weeks ahead, they could be preparing for an All-Ireland Club semi-final next February. In contrast, Tuam will have to lick their wounds for the second year running. They struggled in most of the key duels and will feel they didn’t do themselves justice, but they can do nothing about that now.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.