Salthill Knocknacarra open Galway SFC campaign with win over Milltown

Last year’s county finalists were made work for their six-point victory and eventually came good in the last quarter to do enough to get past Milltown. The city side had ten different players chip in on the scoreboard.

Salthill Knocknacarra were down a number of regulars, with eight of last year’s county final starting XV absent from the starting line-up. Charlie Power, Cathal Sweeney and Tomo Culhane are all currently away in the States and missed their side’s opening Galway SFC win. Matthew Thompson remains sidelined with an ankle injury.

Milltown appeared to be in a decent position, leading 1-4 to 0-5, but failed to build on their half-time lead during the second half as Salthill Knocknacarra took control of proceedings. There were some intriguing battles, with Milltown full-back Jack Kirrane matching up with Salthill Knocknacarra sharpshooter Robert Finnerty, while Evan Wynne man-marked Eoin Mannion. Both battles lacked nothing in intensity.

Finian Hanley was able to welcome back county men, including Galway captain John Maher, Robert Finnerty and Daniel O’Flaherty. Goalkeeper Ruairi Lavelle, Dara Conneely, Evan Wynne, Aaron Mannion and substitute Sean Costello impressed for the winners. Jack Kirrane, Darragh and Niall Costello stood out for Milltown who will look to bounce back in round two.

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It took six minutes for the first score to arrive through Milltown’s Eoin Mannion and the North Galway club then produced an impressive attacking move which saw Darragh Costello, Mike Martin and Eoin Mannion involved before Liam Costello played the ball across to Terrence Godwin, who palmed the ball into the net, and his side led by four points after seven minutes.

However, Salthill Knocknacarra regrouped and Rob Finnerty landed a free on 11 minutes. The Galway attacker followed that up with a two-point free after a breach from Liam Costello to reduce the gap to 1-2 to 0-3 on 14 minutes. Milltown hit back after some good work by Niall Costello and Liam Costello, which saw Mike Martin tap over a close-range free.

Jamie O’Meara and Daniel O’Flaherty combined to level the contest on 22 minutes before Niall Costello raced through the Salthill Knocknacarra defence and blasted a shot over the bar before Mannion added his second point and Milltown went in leading 1-4 to 0-5. Both sides were guilty of some sloppy turnovers and some wayward shooting in the opening period.

Mannion nailed his third point after the break to stretch Eoin Godwin’s charges into a 1-5 to 0-5 lead. Finian Hanley made two changes at the break, introducing Mark Mannion and Sean Costello, and both players made an immediate impact. Aaron Mannion narrowed the gap to keep Hanley’s side within touching distance.

Robert Finnerty played a spectacular pass into his brother Colm, who laid the ball off to Michael Kitt, who found Sean Costello. Costello calmly slotted the ball into the back of the net despite heavy pressure from the Milltown defence. . Robert Walzer and Michael Kitt pushed the 2025 county finalists into a 1-8 to 1-5 lead after 40 minutes and they began to dominate the middle third battle.

Milltown forward Darragh Costello, who was part of the Galway minor football panel last season, was lively inside with his constant movement and was rewarded for his efforts by scoring his first point on 42 minutes to leave it 1-8 to 1-6 in favour of Salthill Knocknacarra.

Former Galway goalkeeper Ruairí Lavelle then gave Hanley’s side some breathing space on the third-quarter mark when he sent over a two-point free and they remained in control in the final quarter. John Maher, Mark Mannion and Sean Costello sealed the win as Milltown could only manage a free courtesy of Martin in the final 12 minutes of the second half.

Play was brought to a halt on 59 minutes after Maher and Niall Costello clashed heads when competing aerially for a ball and Costello was forced off on a stretcher as referee Shane Curley added six minutes of injury time. Salthill Knocknacarra closed out the game impressively and claimed the two points on offer in Tuam Stadium.

SALTHILL KNOCKNACARRA: Robert Finnerty (0-3, tpf, 0-1f), Sean Costello 1-1, Ruairi Lavelle (0-2, tpf), John Maher, Daniel O’Flaherty, Michael Kitt, Robert Walzer, James O’Meara, Mark Mannion and Aaron Mannion 0-1 each

MILLTOWN: Terrence Godwin 1-0, Eoin Mannion (0-3, 0-1f), Mike Martin (0-2, 0-2f), Niall Costello and Darragh Costello 0-1 each

SALTHILL KNOCKNACARRA:Ruairi Lavelle; Dara Conneely, Damien Kiely, Evan Wynne; Paddy Kitt, Aaron Mannion, Daniel O’Flaherty; Michael Kitt, Niall Hanahoe; James O’Meara, John Maher, Cillian O’Toole; Rob Finnerty, Colm Finnerty, Rob Walzer.

SUBS: Mark Mannion for Paddy Kitt (Half-time), Sean Costello for O’Meara (Half-time), Mikey Mullery for O’Toole (42), Jack Power for Michael Kitt (50), Brian Conlon for O’Flaherty (59).

MILLTOWN: Conor Nolan; Padraic Godwin, Jack Kirrane, Johnny Hynes; Sam Feerick, Sean Blake, Andrew Kehoe; Terrence Godwin, Colin Brennan; Niall Costello, Cathal Blake, Liam Costello; Mike Martin, Eoin Mannion, Darragh Costello.

SUBS: Keith Mannion for Feerick (48), Mark Hehir for Niall Costello (59, injury), Eoin Larney for Cathal Blake (65).