Clinical Salthill just too sharp for battling Ballinamore​ in AIB Connacht Club SFC

Battling for every ball and every inch as if their lives depended on it, Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins saw their 2026 campaign come to an end on Sunday in Heartland Credit Union Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada as the greater efficiency of a hard pressed Salthill Knocknacarra took the honours after an entertaining and competitive AIB Connacht Club Senior Quarter Final.​

​Up against a team laden with attacking talent, Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins didn’t attempt to batten down the hatches but went toe to toe with a Salthill Knocknacarra team oozing with firepower and put them to the pins of their collar to escape from Carrick with a four point victory.

Salthill Knocknacarra always looked to have an edge and an ability to raise their intensity any time Ballinamore threatened a shock – Dillon Beirne’s goal cut a four point lead back to one in the first half but the Galway side replied with 1-3 within the next seven minutes. Early in the second half, a driven O’Heslins drew level momentum and the crowd with them, Salthill’s response a devasting 1-3 in just two minutes.

Even when Tom Prior cut the gap once more to just two points with just over seven minutes left on the clock, Salthill responded, another 1-1 as their forward line of the Finnertys and Tomo Culhane exposed gaps in the Ballinamore rearguard. That ability to respond was ultimately the difference between the sides after a really entertaining contest.

There’ll be some wistfulness in the Ballinamore camp that they didn’t get across the line but Salthill always appeared to have an edge they couldn’t quite get over. For all that, Ballinamore represented their County with pride and ambition, taking the game to the Galway champions and never backing down – they’ll be disappointed, naturally, but it was the most competitive and ambitious outing for a Leitrim team in years.

Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins opened the scoring through their talisman Tom Prior, breaking through a tackle to score from 30 yards but Salthill Knocknacarra took their time to equalise, holding onto the possession before Cathal Sweeney cut through the centre to point a minute later.

Ballinamore’s strong start continued when a block on a Shane Moran shot saw the loose ball worked back to Paul Honeyman who landed a huge two pointer to fill the home support with hope on three minutes. Rob Finnerty saw a shot blocked but Salthill’s possession game saw them hold onto the ball before working a chance for Tomo Culhane to land a virtually unmarked two pointer after five minutes.

Honeyman went for a second two pointer but left the effort short before Salthill took the lead for the first time, Cillian O’Toole charging straight at Michael McKiernan, breaking past him to score a good point. Finnerty hit another wide for Salthill while Tom Prior was penalised for over-carrying as he attempted a break-away attack.

Both sides left shots short, Culhane for Salthill and Prior for O’Heslins, but Salthill’s scoring threat was evident when corner-back Dara Conneely popped up in the full-forward line, a quick Salthill free knocked down to hom for a 12th minute score.

Paul Honeyman went into the referee’s book for a challenge on 12 minutes and a foul on O’Toole allowed Culhane to fire over a two point free as Salthill moved four points clear. It could have been worse, Culhane trying to sneak in a shot at the near post but keeper Mark Aherne was alert, diverting it out for a fifty that Salthill keeper Ruairi Lavelle put wide.

Keelan McHugh almost became an unlikely goal provider as he cut in along the endline, his fisted pass across the face of the goal bundled out by a defender but it did indirectly lead to the first goal of the game, Paul Honeyman’s fifty falling short and parried by Lavelle, Dillon Beirne swiftly onto the loose ball and firing through the legs of defender and keeper to the net on 18 minutes.

Salthill, as they would all day, responded with corner-back Evan Wynne chipping over in space in front of goal after another period of possession play on 21 minutes. Two minutes later, Salthill hit the first of their goals, a pass over the top in the corner finding Rob Finnerty who drilled a powerful shot past as exposed Aherne for a crucial goal.

Shane Moran put a two point effort wide before Matthew Thompson produced a moment of skill to alleviate Ballinamore pressure, a clearance with the side of his boot over the advancing O'Heslins’ cover and he showed his talent at the far end seconds later, dodging a would be block to fire over from distance.

Michael McKiernan left a shot short while Cillian O’Toole wasted a good chance, shooting wide as Salthill broke with two men free to his right. Paul Honeyman saw a shot fall short but it wasn’t cleared as Ballinamore won a free and Honeyman tapped over.

Ballinamore got a huge boost on the stroke of halftime when Salthill committed an obvious three man breach while trying to set up an attack, Paul Moran landing a two point free to leave Salthill 1-9 to 1-6 ahead at the break.

Salthill brought on captain Daniel O’Flaherty for the second half but once again, it was Ballinamore who were first off the mark, Paul Honeyman tapping over what looked like a soft enough free after a minute. From the kickout, Ballinamore won possession and with a limping John Maher out of position, Ballinamore took advantage to find Shane Moran and he landed a huge two pointer to tie the scores.

With the home crowd in full voice, Ballinamore were set to push on and test the Galway men but Salthill’s response was deadly as they hit 1-3 in the next three minutes! Rob Finnerty tapped over a free after a foul on Tomo Culhane who got his shot away before it was deflected wide. Then came a goal, Matthew Thompson’s passing find Colm Finnerty in space and his powerful finish gave Aherne no chance.

To rub salt into the wounds, Salthill then landed a huge two pointer, the Galway side aware that advantage was being played after a Ballinamore breach as Thompson leathered the ball over from well outside the 50 yard line. Michael McKiernan saw a two point effort go wide but Cathal Sweeney cut through for a point on 38 minutes.

But Ballinamore refused to die away and a lovely Tom Prior shot on the run started a run of scores with Honeyman converting the free before adding one from play as Mark Henry sent Wayne McKeon and Luke Murphy into the fray from the bench, Brian Leyden and Dillon Beirne making way.

Evan Wynne put a shot across the face of the Ballinamore goal but Rob Finnerty fired over from a tight angle before Thompson almost cut to a Finnerty shot that was trailing wide. Ballinamore cut the gap back to four when Niall McGovern claimed a good mark, his initial effort from play blocked before the mark was paid.

Both teams had bad misses before Cathal Sweeney’s driving run led to another point on 50 minutes, Ballinamore again trailing by five points. Then came a chance of a goal, Paul Honeyman reacted quickest to intercept a slack Salthill sideline ball, playing a one-two with Tom Prior before seeing his shot blocked. The ball came to Paul Moran but his effort was also blocked.

But Ballinamore’s pressure was creating chances and after Salthill sub Niall Hanahoe couldn’t get to an errant pass, Michael McBrien scooped the ball to Wayne McKeon. His pass found Niall McGovern in front of goal but he fed Tom Prior and the Ballinamore star, despite keeper and two defenders bearing down on him, fired low to the bottom right hand corner after 52 minutes.

Unfortunately, the aftermath of the goal had big consequences for Ballinamore as Paul Honeyman picked up a second yellow card, ending his game early and leaving O’Heslins a man down.

Salthill settled themselves with Sweeney incredibly hitting a fourth point from wing-back and after Paul Moran put a two point effort wide, Salthill closed the gap out when they put together a great move that ended with Tomo Culhane firing to the Ballinamore net from close range after 56 minutes.

Salthill should have had a fourth goal, breaking clear but Mark Aherne did a good job to frustrate Colm Finnerty, his shot going out for a fifty that Thompson put wide. Ballinamore kept battling, Tom Prior almost getting a touch to a long ball that Salthill’s keeper claimed.

A quick free to Wayne McKeon saw him set up fellow up Donal Feely for a point in the final minute of normal time, McKeon again the provider two minutes later when his fiercely driven pass was somehow gathered by Tom Prior bearing down on goal but he lifted his shot too high and over the bar.

After that, Salthill Knocknacarra were contention to keep possession for the remaining two minutes of added time, moving the ball around and never giving Ballinamore Sean O’Heslins one final chance of launching one last raid at their goal.

BALLINAMORE SEAN O’HESLINS

Scorers: Paul Honeyman 0-6, tp, 3f; Tom Prior 1-3; Dillon Beirne 1-0; Paul Moran (tpf) & Shane Moran (tp) 0-2 each; Niall McGovern (M) & Donal Feely 0-1 each

Team: Mark Aherne; Cathal McHugh, Brian Banks, Mathew Murphy; Niall McGovern, Michael McBrien, Keelan McHugh; Shane Moran, Niall McGovern; Michael McKiernan, Tom Prior, Dillon Beirne; Paul Moran, Brian Leyden, Paul Honeyman. Subs: Wayne Mckeon for Leyden (40); Luke Murphy for Beirne (41); Louis Quinn for McKiernan (55); Donal Feely for D McGovern (55); Conor Moran for K McHugh (57)

SALTHHILL KNOCKNACARRA

Scorers: Tomo Culhane 1-4, tpf, tp; Rob Finnerty 1-2, f; Cathal Sweeney 0-4; Matthew Thomposon 0-3, tp; Colm Finnerty 1-0; Dara Conneely, Evan Wynne & Cillian O’Toole 0-1 each

Team: Ruairí Lavelle: Dara Conneely; Damien Kiely, Evan Wynne; Cathal Sweeney, Paddy Kitt, Mark Mannion; John Maher, Michael Kitt; Cillian O'Toole, Mathew Thompson, Mickey Mullery; Colm Finnerty, Robert Finnerty, Tomó Culhane. Subs: Daniel O'Flaherty for Kitt (HT); Mickey Culhane for M Kitt (41); Niall Hanohoe for O'Toole (52); Brian Conlon for C Finnerty (58)

Referee: Ronan Hynes (Sligo)