Galway SFC Final/ Salthill/Knocknacarra 0-11 Carna/Cashel 2-2: Favourites Salthill/Knocknacarra were made fight all the way before they secured their second Galway senior football title and their first since 1990 at Pearse Stadium yesterday.
Carna/Cashel, appearing in their first final having come up to the senior grade just three years ago, put in a typically spirited performance which at one stage looked like resulting in a major shock.
The result sees former Footballer of the Year Michael Donnellan secure a county medal just six months after transferring from Dunmore MacHales and he was a key figure as the city side captured the crown in front of a crowd of about 5,000.
The sides were level at the break with Carna/Cashel having enjoyed the advantage of the gale-force wind. But Salthill's expected second-half superiority failed to materialise and with 12 minutes remaining Carna/Cashel led by a point, 2-2 to 0-7.
That came when their most industrious forward Micheál Ó Cathasaigh expertly slotted home a 45th minute penalty for his second goal.
However, Salthill tied the match when Séamie Crowe pointed a free and then they edged in front with eight minutes remaining when Alan Kerins set up Crowe for his third point.
Kerins, the Galway hurler, produced a man-of-the-match performance which he crowned with three points from play. With Salthill clinging to a one-point lead, Crowe missed a penalty four minutes from time. But Kerins copper-fastened Salthill's grip on the title when he landed an excellent point and then Armstrong added an insurance score in stoppage time.
SALTHILL/KNOCKNACARRA: C McGinley; R McTiernan, F Hanley, C Begley; M O'Connell, G Morley, PJ Kelly; M Sheridan, D Gilmartin; A Kerins (0-3), M Donnellan (0-1), D Burke; S Crowe (0-3, two frees), S Armstrong (0-3), S Rabbitte (0-1). Subs: A Callanan for Burke (44 mins); J Boylan for Sheridan (50 mins); T Burke for Callanan (59, inj); B Dooney for Hanley (60, inj).
CARNA/CASHEL: D Ó Dubhda; E Ó Cuinneain, V Feeney, D Ó Suiieabhain; C Ó Luideain, M Ó Clochartaigh, B Ó Cathasaigh; C Ó Cadhain, M MacFhlannacha; S Ó Cathasaigh (0-1), N Coyne, R Ó Cualain; M Ó Cathasaigh (2-1, 1-0 pen), S Ó Flatharta, C Ó Maoilchiarain. Subs: S O Cathasaigh for O Flatharta (59 mins).
Referee: D Ryder (Kilconly).
