Salthill are up against it

By Darren Kelly

COUNTY Junior 1 hurling champions Salthill/Knocknacarra will chase their own piece of history on Sunday (1.30pm TUS Gaelic Grounds) when they take on Kilkenny’s Mooncoin in the All-Ireland semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds (1.30pm).

Never before has a Galway side reached the national decider in the third tier of club hurling, but they face opponents still on course to become the Marble County’s 10th different winner in just the 18th staging of this competition.

It’s a formidable task but one the city side will relish. And led by captain Michael O’Donnell and marksman Donal O’Shea, who’s impressed in county colours recently, they’ll put it up to their Leinster rivals.

Mooncoin have been devastating since overcoming Tullogher Rosbercon 3-19 to 3-11 in the county final in November. Two weeks earlier, they dispatched Slieverue with six goals in the semi.

The green flags continued with eight combined against Westmeath’s St. Oliver Plunketts and Wexford’s Tara Rocks. And just two weeks ago, they were 4-13 to 0-15 victors over Offaly’s Shamrocks in the Leinster Final.

Patrick Walsh was the star that day with 3-6 but over the campaign, there’s been a good spread of scorers for Willie Coogan’s team. Adam Croke has contributed 3-10 in their last five outings, Máirtin Gannon with 3-2, while centre back Martin O’Neill has tallied 1-11.

O’Neill was a Kilkenny under 20 in 2020 and forms a strong back line with Jim Delahunty and Cormac Daly. Eoin Purcell mans the goal with Shane Walsh in front of him, while at midfield, Sean Gannon has delivered 1-5.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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