Seasiders stunned in county club football championship

A shock one point defeat which saw 2012 county champions Salthill-Knocknacarra succumb to unfancied Connemara opponents for the second year in a row was the main talking point from the first round of the senior football championship at the weekend.

An Cheathru Rua were rated as 10/3 outsiders to overcome the city side at Pearse Stadium on Saturday afternoon, but scraped home by 1-4 to 0-6 in a poor encounter which seemed to lack genuine championship intensity from the outset.

A late red card for Seamie Crowe summed up Salthill’s woes on a day when An Cheathru Rua clung on for victory despite earlier black cards for midfielder Stiofan O Briain and wing back Ian Seoige.

Salthill will now face Kilconly, who went down by two points to Caltra on Friday night, in the losers’ round.

St James’ produced the most impressive performance of the city sides at the weekend, beating pre-match favourites Cortoon Shamrocks by 2-8 to 1-6 despite missing county star Paul Conroy due to a foot injury.

St James’ will face Milltown, who enjoyed a facile victory over newcomers Menlough, ni the next round.

Midfielder Frank Daly was the star of the show for St Michael’s when they overcame Kilkerrin-Clonberne by 1-12 to 1-9 at Tuam Stadium on Sunday evening. They have been drawn to face another North Galway side, six times champions Killererin, in the next round.

Killererin had to go to extra time to overcome Bearna in an exciting tie at Corofin on Sunday afternoon, running out 1-12 to 0-13 winners.

Round two draw: Winners’ group: Caherlistrane v Caltra; Corofin v Tuam Stars; Milltown v St James’; Annaghdown v An Cheathru Rua; Killererin v St Michael’s. Losers’ group: Mountbellew-Moylough v Menlough; Salthill-Knocknacarra v Kilconly; Micheal Breathnach v Carna-Caiseal; Bearna v Leitir Mor; Kilerrin-Clonberne v Cortoon Shamrocks.