Salthill come in from the cold

Salthill-Knocknacarra 0-7 St Gall’s 0-6

While they failed to add to their total after Sean Armstrong's score 12 minutes into the second-half, some heroic defending and poor finishing from St Gall's meant Salthill were able to protect a four-point advantage until the closing stages.

However, after three late frees two of them from substitute Ciaran McGourty there was every possibility of a draw until Michael Donnellan won a vital ball in the third minute of injury time and was fouled in the process. Seconds later it was all over and Galway supporters could celebrate only the second county double since Blackrock and Nemo Rangers brought both titles to Cork in 1979.

The game was a real battle all through. It was decided on one of the coldest days ever in Croke Park and produced the lowest aggregate score since Kilmacud Crokes beat Bellaghy 0-8 to 0-5, 11 years ago.

Although Salthill enjoyed a strong wind advantage in the first half, there was little between the teams. Defending in numbers and threatening on the breakaway once they settled, St Gall's were two points down after nine minutes but were level in another 10.

Salthill made most progress when they were comfortable at half-back and got the ball through to the composed Donnellan, who distributed it cleverly.

St Gall's went in front with a 22nd-minute free from Sean Burns. By now, they were winning plenty of ball at midfield (where Maurice Sheridan had been prominent for a while with Salthill) and getting good support from Aodhan Gallagher, Kevin McGourty and later Kevin Niblock. Frustratingly for them, however, poor kicking - which produced 11 wides - cost them scores.

Nevertheless, Gallagher's industry might have earned him a 24th-minute goal had he been able to get in a better shot off the ground after doing well to get in close. Shortly afterward, a shot from Armstrong almost ended into the St Gall's net when replacement 'keeper Ronan Gallagher did well to stop an angled shot which appeared to be going over the bar and then reacted quickly when it went away from him.

One of Salthill's best moves, in the 28th minute, ended with dual star Alan Kerins being tackled high and getting injured. From the resultant free, Sheridan had them 0-4 to 0-3 in front at half-time, but Kerins only played for two minutes of the second half before being replaced because of concussion.

It was during this early period that Salthill produced two points which were to ultimately prove invaluable. Wing-forward Seamie Rabbitte got the first, from a difficult angle, and the other came from another Sheridan free. St Gall's were to wait 23 minutes before they got their next score, but a Gallagher goal in the 37th minute was disallowed because of square infringement.

In another five minutes Armstrong had completed Salthill's scoring with a point.

Effectively, what happened over the 15 minutes was that St Gall's threatened a lot but were frequently repulsed by Salthill's strong inside backs.

Finian Hanley was dominant at full-back and Marty O'Connell did some excellent work at right-half, but it was Donnellan (who finished at midfield) who exerted the biggest single influence.

The irony was that after Kieran McGourty pointed in the 56th minute and Conor McGourty scored in the 59th and 61st minutes, Donnellan made what could have been a costly error. Team captain Maurice Sheridan won the kick-out after the last score, much to the relief of Salthill supporters, and was hauled down. Inexplicably Donnellan kicked the free over the left touchline, only to redeem himself by winning back the ball when it was kicked down. His joyous reaction after being fouled was understandable for the obvious reason that it marked the end of the brave challenge from St Galls.

*Dave Coldrick did a good job of refereeing in difficult conditions.

Scorers for Salthill: S. Rabbitte 0-2; M. Sheridan 0-2 frees; B. Dooney, S. Armstrong and S. Crowe 0-1 each.

St Gall's: S. Burns 0-2 (0-1 free); C. McGourty 0-2 frees; Kevin McGourty (free) and K. Stewart 0-1 each.

SALTHILL-KNOCKNACARRA: C. McGinley; R. McTiernan, F. Hanley, C. Begley; M. O'Connell, G. Morley, B. Geraghty; M. Sheridan (capt.), B. Dooney; A. Kerins, M. Donnellan, S. Rabbitte; S. Crowe, J. Boylan, S. Armstrong. Subs: A. Callanan for Boylan (injured, 14th minute); D. Burke for Kerins (injured, 32nd); P.J. Kelly for Callanan (53rd; F. McCann for Crowe (60th); A. McDermott for Geraghty (64th).

ST GALL'S: R. Gallagher; S. Kennedy, Kieran McGourty, C. Brady; A. Healey, G. McGirr, S. Kelly (capt.); M. McCrory, C. McCrossan; P. Gribbin, S. Burns, A. Gallagher; K. Stewart, Kevin McGourty, K. Niblock. Subs: A. McClean for McCrossan (37th minute); T. O'Neill for Stewart (49th); C. McGourty for Kieran McGourty (54th).

Referee: D. Coldrick (Meath).

*Attendance: 33,454.