Superb Salthill turn on the style in sauntering to glory

Salthill/Knocknacarra 3-12

Caltra 1-6

Tomás Keating At Tuam Stadium

SALTHILL/Knocknacarra won their fifth county minor A title this decade as they thoroughly outclassed Caltra thanks to a magnificent display in the curtain raiser to the senior final on Sunday afternoon.

Both clubs had previously met in the 2002 final, with a Salthill/Knocknacarra side that featured the likes of Sean Armstrong, Finian Hanley, Aonghus Callanan, Ruairí McTiernan and Tom Burke, while Michael Meehan, Shane Hogan and Oisín Kelly subsequently starred in Caltra’s 2004 All-Ireland club final victory over An Ghaeltacht.

Both clubs will be hoping that their current crop of minors will go on to be as successful as those of 17-years ago. Salthill/Knocknacarra are starting to see some evidence of that already. Cathal Sweeney, Aidan Halloran and Eoin Tinney all featured in the city club’s SFC semi-final defeat to Corofin over a fortnight ago.

Just like the 2002 final, Salthill/Knocknacarra brought home the McHugh Cup, but this time it wasn’t as much a contest. It was hard not to have sympathy for Caltra as they didn’t register a single score in the opening half, trailing 2-9 to 0-0 at the interval. The final was over as contest by the 19th minute when Tinney’s high shot for a point dropped short, but there was confusion between goalkeeper Robbie Greene and full-back Eoghan McCabe. The ball bounced off McCabe and it went into his own net, as Salthill/Knocknacarra led 2-3 to 0-0.

The second half was about salvaging pride for Caltra, as they didn’t want to become the first team since Tuam Stars (1986) to not score in a minor final, coincidentally, that was also against Salthill/Knocknacarra.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app

The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.