Ballinamore hoping for happier memories against Galway's Salthill Knocknacarra

If there is one Leitrim club with the pedigree to face into the AIB Connacht Senior Club Championship campaign with a degree of optimism and confidence, it is Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins as they face into what is regarded as a mamoth task when new Galway champions Salthill Knocknacarra travel to Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada on Sunday (1.30 pm throw-in) for an eagerly anticipated quarter final clash.

On the face of it, that seems like a strange statement given that Galway club’s have a perfect ten record against Leitrim champions in the Senior Club championship, Moycullen dismantling an understrength Leitrim Gaels last year after early promise from the Green & Gold champions in Salthill. But Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins have a history of testing Galway clubs to the limit, even if victory eludes them.

Ballinamore themselves fell just two points short of Mountbellew Moylough in the Covid defined Connacht championship of 2021, the Galway team having just a week between their County win and visiting Carrick-on-Shannon as Ballinamore tested them to the nth degree, the Galway side needed a late flurry to scores to get across the line.

Interestingly, both these clubs have clashed in Connacht before, all the way back in 1990 after Salthill won their first Galway title against Ballinamore on an absolutely dreadful day in Athenry. The game, memorable for an exceptional display from Olly Honeyman in the Ballinamore full-back line, was due to be played in Salthill two days before Christmas but was moved to Athenry after St Jarlath’s Stadium was ruled unplayable.

With Niall Finnegan leading the way, Salthill eventually got by Ballinamore, the 0-11 to 0-5 scoreline not truly reflective of how competitive the Leitrim champions were on the day. It was Ballinamore’s fourth appearance in a Connacht Club Final (1968, 1973, 1986 and 1990) with Aughawillan (1992 & 1994), St Mary’s Kiltoghert (1995) and Allen Gaels (1997) the only Leitrim clubs to reach the biggest day in the club calendar in the province.

For this Ballinamore team, it is a shot to nothing as Salthill will start the warmest of favourites - neither team had an advantage in terms of preparation time with both playing their finals on the October Bank Holiday Sunday although Ballinamore’s celebrations may have been less raccuous given they had won the title five years ago and for Salthill, it was their first crown since 2012.

The seasiders showed remarkable resilience as it appeared Moycullen had broken their hearts in the Galway Final when Peter Cooke landed a massive two pointer to take a two point lead in injury time. But when John Maher made a fantastic catch in the middle of the field, their Tribesmen contingent came to the fore, Maher feeding Matthew Thompson who got the ball to sub Tomo Culhane who buried the ball in the net for a dramatic winner.

Salthill’s Tribe contingent will take some watching, particularly from midfield up with Maher and Thompson joined by Rob Finnerty, Cathal Sweeney, Daniel O’Flaherty and Culhane who came off the bench in the Galway final to score 1-6 as Ballinamore will want to restrict the attacking potential of the Galway men.

Ballinamore will be delighted to have the McGovern brothers on board, speculation that they were headed back on their travels after the County Final allayed and both will play a key role tomorrow while Mark Henry will also hope that Michael McKiernan’s impressive return from injury will continue apace. New keeper Mark Aherne will keep his place in the likely absence of Darren Maxwell but Salthill may seek to put pressure on the youngster.

Upfront, O’Heslins will hope to inflict a good bit of damage on the Salthill defence but the Galway men are sure to have someone watching Tom Prior and Paul Honeyman in particular, hoping to restrict their impact while Shane Moran and Niall McGovern will hope to restrict the impact Galway captain John Maher will have on the game, Maher hugely influential in feeding the dangerous Salthill attackers.

No more than Ballinamore, Salthill have had their share of heartbreak in county finals, having lost four between their 2012 and 2026 triumphs but they also have a history of doing well once they escape the confines of Galway. Their ambitions may be focussed very much in that direction but they won’t take their eye off Ballinamore, particularly as they are on the road and the reputation of Leitrim teams lifting themselves in Pairc Sean is one Salthill will be wary of.

The odds definitely favour Salthill Knocknacarra with their array of talent and having come through a tough campaign against Oughterard, Corofin and defending champions Moycullen, the Galway side have greater ambitions. Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins have nothing to lose and if they play with the same intensity and display the same clinical finishing in front of goal, they could cause the Galway team enormous problems.

Salthill Knocknacarra get the nod but I expect Mark Henry’s team to test them to the limit and if they are closing going into the final stages, you never know what might happen!