SEAN KELLY LED the way as Maigh Cuilinn captured their third Galway SFC when they finished strongly to beat by two points on Saturday night.
Salthill/Knocknacarra overturned a four-point deficit to hit the front 10 minutes from time, but Maigh Cuilinn hit back and met the challenge head-on to add to their successes of 2020 and 2022 after losing the last two finals to Corofin.
The first ever floodlit Galway final attracted a crowd of 6,500 to Pearse Stadium — an increase of almost 45% on last year’s decider.
Maigh Cuilinn, backed by the wind, led by 1-11 to 1-6 at the end of a lively opening half which begun with Galway captain Kelly racing through to fire home a goal after just 30 seconds.
Maigh Cuilinn built on that brilliant start with Fionn McDonagh pushing them 1-1 to 0-0 in front after less than two minutes.
Maigh Cuilinn's Michael Moughan with Salthill/Knocknacarra's Tomo Culhane Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO
Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO
Salthill/Knocknacarra, forced to line out without their injured captain, All Star John Maher, got off the mark when goalkeeper Donal O’Sullivan steered a 45 between the posts after his opposite number Pierce Greally did well to deflect a flick from Tomo Culhane around the post.
Dessie Conneely responded with a two-pointer free for Maigh Cuilinn and former Offaly captain Johnny Moloney added a point to lead by 1-4 to 0-1 after nine minutes.
Rob Finnerty kept Salthill/Knocknacarra in the game with three points, two of them from play, in response to a Paul Kelly effort.
But then after Young Player of the Year nominee Matthew Thompson got the first of his points for Salthill/Knocknacarra, they got back on level terms nine minutes from the break when Finnerty squeezed home a penalty in the right corner after Daniel O’Flaherty was fouled by Sean Kelly.
Peter Cooke tries to fend off Salthill/Knocknacarra's Charlie Power Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO
Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO
Peter Cooke, who had missed most of Maigh Cuilinn’s campaign as he was working in the United States in recent months, was drafted from the bench and the Galway player made a huge impact.
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Cooke, who made his bow in this year’s championship when he came on as a sub in their semi-final win over Tuam Stars, landed a couple of two-pointers after being narrowly off target with his first effort.
Thompson got his second point before the break but they went in trailing by five as Sean Kelly and Conneely hit the target.
Salthill/Knocknacarra hit three wides in the opening four minutes of the second half but a free from Finnerty and then a two-pointer from a placed ball by the All Star got the margin down to two after 37 minutes.
Salthill/Knocknacarra were left reeling by Maigh Cuilinn's late surge. Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO
Tom O’Hanlon / INPHO / INPHO
Niall Walsh and Fionn McDonagh responded for Maigh Cuilinn to make it 1-13 to 1-9 but then Salthill/Knocknacarra took over and hit the front after a two-pointer from Thompson got them level after he and Cathal Sweeney had found the range.
Then Rob Walzer edged Salthill/Knocknacarra in front for the first time but Maigh Cuilinn responded. Conneely levelled three minutes from time before he landed a two-point free and when Finnerty cut the gap to the minimum in the first of six minutes of added time, Sean Kelly sealed the win with a late point.
In Fermanagh, Erne Gaels Belleek sealed back-to-back senior football titles with a three-point win against Derrygonnelly Harps in Brewster Park.
Ultan Kelm’s first-half goal proved crucial as Belleek ran out 1-12 to 1-9 winners in Saturday evening’s replay.
Meanwhile, reigning Laois football champions Portarlington will march on to the Leinster senior club championship once again after they retained their title in O’Moore Park.
Portarlington beat Courtwood by 1-7 to 0-7 in Saturday evening’s replay to clinch a fifth county crown in six seasons.
Scorers for Maigh Cuilinn: Dessie Conneely 0-6 (2 2pf, 0-1f), Sean Kelly 1-2, Peter Cooke 0-4 (2p), Fionn McDonagh 0-2, Johnny Mooney 0-1, Paul Kelly 0-1, Niall Walsh 0-1.
Scorers for Salthill/Knocknacarra: Rob Finnerty 1-7 (1-0p, 1 2pf, 0-3f), Matthew Thompson 0-5 (1 2p), Donal O’Sullivan 0-1 (45), Cathal Sweeney 0-1, Rob Walzer 0-1.
Maigh Cuilinn
1. Pierce Greally
18. Aidan Claffey
3. Michael Moughan
6. Eoghan Kelly
7. Sean O’Connor
17. Sean Kelly
5. David Wynne
8. Paul Kelly
21. Tom Clarke
10. Johnny Moloney
11. Niall Walsh
22. Ger Davoren
Substitutes: Peter Cooke for Davoren (20), Neil Mulcahy for Clarke (39), Davoren for Fiachra McDonagh (46), James McLoughlin for O’Connor (52).
Salthill/Knocknacarra
1. Donal O’Sullivan
19. Dara Conneely
6. Evan Wynne
2. Eoghan Deely
17. Mark Mannion
5. Aaron Mannion
7. Cathal Sweeney
8. Michael Kitt
28. Niall Hanahoe
24. Charlie Power
15. Matthew Thompson
12. Daniel O’Flaherty
21. Evan Nolan
14. Rob Finnerty
23. Tomo Culhane
Substitutes: Mikey Culhane for M Kitt (half-time), Paddy Kitt for A Mannion (half-time), Rob Walzer for Nolan (43), James McDermott for M Culhane (53), M Kitt for Deely (55).
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Maigh Cuilinn find another gear late on to clinch third Galway SFC title in six years
Maigh Cuilinn 1-17
Salthill/Knocknacarra 1-15
SEAN KELLY LED the way as Maigh Cuilinn captured their third Galway SFC when they finished strongly to beat by two points on Saturday night.
Salthill/Knocknacarra overturned a four-point deficit to hit the front 10 minutes from time, but Maigh Cuilinn hit back and met the challenge head-on to add to their successes of 2020 and 2022 after losing the last two finals to Corofin.
The first ever floodlit Galway final attracted a crowd of 6,500 to Pearse Stadium — an increase of almost 45% on last year’s decider.
Maigh Cuilinn, backed by the wind, led by 1-11 to 1-6 at the end of a lively opening half which begun with Galway captain Kelly racing through to fire home a goal after just 30 seconds.
Maigh Cuilinn built on that brilliant start with Fionn McDonagh pushing them 1-1 to 0-0 in front after less than two minutes.
Salthill/Knocknacarra, forced to line out without their injured captain, All Star John Maher, got off the mark when goalkeeper Donal O’Sullivan steered a 45 between the posts after his opposite number Pierce Greally did well to deflect a flick from Tomo Culhane around the post.
Dessie Conneely responded with a two-pointer free for Maigh Cuilinn and former Offaly captain Johnny Moloney added a point to lead by 1-4 to 0-1 after nine minutes.
Rob Finnerty kept Salthill/Knocknacarra in the game with three points, two of them from play, in response to a Paul Kelly effort.
But then after Young Player of the Year nominee Matthew Thompson got the first of his points for Salthill/Knocknacarra, they got back on level terms nine minutes from the break when Finnerty squeezed home a penalty in the right corner after Daniel O’Flaherty was fouled by Sean Kelly.
Peter Cooke, who had missed most of Maigh Cuilinn’s campaign as he was working in the United States in recent months, was drafted from the bench and the Galway player made a huge impact.
Cooke, who made his bow in this year’s championship when he came on as a sub in their semi-final win over Tuam Stars, landed a couple of two-pointers after being narrowly off target with his first effort.
Thompson got his second point before the break but they went in trailing by five as Sean Kelly and Conneely hit the target.
Salthill/Knocknacarra hit three wides in the opening four minutes of the second half but a free from Finnerty and then a two-pointer from a placed ball by the All Star got the margin down to two after 37 minutes.
Niall Walsh and Fionn McDonagh responded for Maigh Cuilinn to make it 1-13 to 1-9 but then Salthill/Knocknacarra took over and hit the front after a two-pointer from Thompson got them level after he and Cathal Sweeney had found the range.
Then Rob Walzer edged Salthill/Knocknacarra in front for the first time but Maigh Cuilinn responded. Conneely levelled three minutes from time before he landed a two-point free and when Finnerty cut the gap to the minimum in the first of six minutes of added time, Sean Kelly sealed the win with a late point.
In Fermanagh, Erne Gaels Belleek sealed back-to-back senior football titles with a three-point win against Derrygonnelly Harps in Brewster Park.
Ultan Kelm’s first-half goal proved crucial as Belleek ran out 1-12 to 1-9 winners in Saturday evening’s replay.
Meanwhile, reigning Laois football champions Portarlington will march on to the Leinster senior club championship once again after they retained their title in O’Moore Park.
Portarlington beat Courtwood by 1-7 to 0-7 in Saturday evening’s replay to clinch a fifth county crown in six seasons.
Scorers for Maigh Cuilinn: Dessie Conneely 0-6 (2 2pf, 0-1f), Sean Kelly 1-2, Peter Cooke 0-4 (2p), Fionn McDonagh 0-2, Johnny Mooney 0-1, Paul Kelly 0-1, Niall Walsh 0-1.
Scorers for Salthill/Knocknacarra: Rob Finnerty 1-7 (1-0p, 1 2pf, 0-3f), Matthew Thompson 0-5 (1 2p), Donal O’Sullivan 0-1 (45), Cathal Sweeney 0-1, Rob Walzer 0-1.
Maigh Cuilinn
1. Pierce Greally
18. Aidan Claffey
3. Michael Moughan
6. Eoghan Kelly
7. Sean O’Connor
17. Sean Kelly
5. David Wynne
8. Paul Kelly
21. Tom Clarke
10. Johnny Moloney
11. Niall Walsh
22. Ger Davoren
13. Fionn McDonagh
14. Fiachra McDonagh
15. Dessie Conneely
Substitutes: Peter Cooke for Davoren (20), Neil Mulcahy for Clarke (39), Davoren for Fiachra McDonagh (46), James McLoughlin for O’Connor (52).
Salthill/Knocknacarra
1. Donal O’Sullivan
19. Dara Conneely
6. Evan Wynne
2. Eoghan Deely
17. Mark Mannion
5. Aaron Mannion
7. Cathal Sweeney
8. Michael Kitt
28. Niall Hanahoe
24. Charlie Power
15. Matthew Thompson
12. Daniel O’Flaherty
21. Evan Nolan
14. Rob Finnerty
23. Tomo Culhane
Substitutes: Mikey Culhane for M Kitt (half-time), Paddy Kitt for A Mannion (half-time), Rob Walzer for Nolan (43), James McDermott for M Culhane (53), M Kitt for Deely (55).
Referee: Christopher Ryan (Killannin).
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GAA Gaelic Football Maigh Cuilinn gaa Salthill/Knocknacarra GAA The West's awake