St. James' goal spree does the damage against fancied city rivals

Date Published: {J}

Darragh McDonagh

ST. James’ stunned favourites Salthill-Knocknacarra with a goal blitz to claim the West Minor ‘A’ Football Championship at Pearse Stadium on Saturday.

Tom Joyce’s Salthill side appeared to be the more potent attacking force for long periods of the evenly balanced encounter, but two goals in each half from Liam Finnerty and Captain Adam Lee proved to be the difference between the city teams.

Salthill-Knocknacarra were quickest to settle into the match and Gearoid Armstrong, Ronan Conlon and Michael O’Donnell helped their side into the lead after 15 minutes with just a single point from Eoghan O’Regan in response.

St James’ were struggling to contain their opponents and were guilty of some haphazard defending as the half progressed, and Armstrong found himself in acres of space to receive the ball on the left-hand side and leisurely knock it between the posts to extend Salthill’s advantage to 0-4 to 0-2.

The game was unfolding according to plan for Salthill, but St James’ turned the match on its head in the space of two minutes in the final third of the half. Owen Teagle brought the ball out of his own half after a Salthill offensive broke down and lofted the ball forward ahead of Finnerty, who left Gearoid Canavan flat-footed and bounded down on goal.

His finish was clinical as he slammed the ball into the top corner of Ronan Burke’s goal to make the score 1-2 to 0-4. Salthill were still in shock when St James advanced again less than a minute later. Aran Connolly’s shot was blocked amidst a scramble in front of goal, and the rebound fell to Lee, who knocked the ball into the net.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.