Ring-rusty Salthill bailed out of trouble by late Armstrong point

Date Published: {J}

Salthill / Knocknacarra 1-5

Tuam Stars 0-8

Dara Bradley at Pearse Stadium

SALTHILL/Knocknacarra needed a late equalising point from substitute Seán Armstrong to just about hang on in the Galway senior football championship against a vastly improved Tuam Stars side that will rue a series of costly wides in the space of a few minutes at the end of Sunday’s semi-final at Pearse Stadium.

It was Armstrong’s first championship appearance and score since May – the Galway star was away for the victories over Killererin and Moycullen – and it could well prove to be one of his most valuable points in his club career to date, saving Salthill/Knocknacarra’s blushes by forcing a replay when converting a pressure kick right on the stroke of the 60th minute.

The main talking point afterwards was, unfortunately, time-keeping by the referee: At least five minutes injury time was signalled by match official Brendan Kinneavey but he blew the final whistle with just 34 minutes and 17 seconds showing on the stadium clock.

At that stage, Salthill/Knocknacarra were in possession in Tuam’s half and the possibility of the city side scoring a winner in the remaining 30 seconds or so was very real. Salthill/Knocknacarra players and management were understandably incensed although Kinneavey could argue the stadium stop watch was started late and the injury time on his watch – the only one that matters – had elapsed.

Either way the match probably should have been allowed to continue until that last passage of play broke-down, but the reality was that Gerry Hughes’ charges were second best on the day, and performed way below their standard, particularly in the second half. A late victory for Salthill/Knocknacarra would have been robbery.

The West Board outfit’s summer form – which saw them average 3-14 in the two August championship matches – deserted them on Sunday, as the seasiders looked a shadow of the side that dethroned champions Killererin and taught Moycullen a lesson.

Their backs were solid enough but Tuam dominated the middle third of the park after the break and Salthill/Knocknacarra just couldn’t get any amount of decent ball into their forwards to threaten the North Galway men. What’s the point in having the championship’s most potent attacker and top scorer from play, Seamie Crowe, on the edge of the square if you can’t or won’t feed the ball to him?

For more, read this week’s Connacht Sentinel.