Lively St Thomas’ strike early in a big win over Salthill Knocknacarra

Three goals from Amy Caulfield, Áine Keane and Orla Mullins were the knockout blows, but their first half display made one wonder how they managed to get relegated in 2025.

Keane led the charge, supported by Orla and Ciara Mullins, and Caulfield. Sarah Healy was excellent in goal while Aoife Flannery, Heather Cooney, Kayla Burke, Aisling Headd and Aoife Brennan typified the industry of Brian Griffin’s side.

For Salthill-Knocknacarra, this was a painful defeat, their fourth final loss in five seasons. They just never found the flow. Laura Kelly covered every blade of grass and there were good spells from Aisling Griffin, Aoibhe Joyce and substitute Aoife Kelly.

St. Thomas’ devastating start deserved its own highlight reel as they raced 2-3 to 0-0 clear by the sixth minute. Caulfield tapped over a free before Burke’s turnover allowed Ciara Mullins put Caulfield through for the first goal on four minutes.

With the wind, Keane treated supporters to a two-point sideline cut. And then the Galway senior rattled the top corner of the net, after Caulfield’s pass.

Salthill-Knocknacarra needed a lift, but the post and Healy kept out Laura Kelly and Joyce. Laura Kelly converted two points to leave them 2-3 to 0-2 down on 10 minutes.

St. Thomas’ weren’t holding back and brought the difference to double digits through Caulfield, Burke, Headd, Orla Mullins (2) and Caulfield. After Sorcha McGinley and Laura Kelly reduced arrears, Keane’s free left it 2-10 to 0-4 at half-time.

With the elements, Salthill-Knocknacarra needed an immediate impact upon the restart and Laura Kelly tagged over two frees. But when the her penalty on 38 minutes was stopped by Galway team mate Healy, their comeback chances looked doomed.

Five minutes later, St. Thomas’ wrapped it up as Headd and Siobhan Mullins carved open space before the latter fed her sister Orla for the third goal. After Laura Kelly and Keane traded frees, the red and blue were 3-11 to 0-7 clear entering the final quarter.

Salthill-Knocknacarra kept chasing and sisters Laura and Aoife Kelly tallied two points each. But only a goal would threaten St. Thomas’ reclaiming Senior B honours for the first time since 2023, as Keane capped off her performance with the final score seven minutes into injury time.

​St. Thomas’: S Healy; S Flannery, Ailbhe Flannery, Aoife Flannery; R Quinn, H Cooney, F Burke; A Headd (0-1), A Brennan; O Mullins (1-2), Á Keane (1-5, 2f, 1tp sideline), K Burke (0-1); S Mullins, A Caulfield (1-3, 2f), C Mullins. Subs: L Coen for S Flannery (36), A Massey for Quinn (44), M Farrell for Caulfield (52), D Burke for S Mullins (59), A Gillane for C Mullins (66).

​Salthill-Knocknacarra: S Keane; R Mulrooney, F Roarty, E Baker; N Daly, A Griffin, A Keane; A Joyce, L Kelly (0-8, 6f, 1’45); A Joyce, S Divilly, S McGinley (0-1); O Dunne, A Dillon, E Madden. Subs: A Kelly (0-2) for Dillon (41), S Jackson for Mulrooney (50), R Murphy for Jackson (inj. 61).

Referee: E Loughnane