Salthill-Knocknacarra gaining momentum

Salthill-Knocknacarra remain on course for successive Galway SFC titles for the first time after holding off the challenge of a Caltra side forced to start without Michael Meehan.

They face city rivals St James’ in the semi-finals after the Mervue/Renmore outfit saw off another city outfit, St Michael’s at the weekend.

But Corofin, winners of 11 of the last Galway 22 crowns, sent out another title warning when they hammered Leitir Mor, scoring six goals in the process. They will face the winners of a replay between Milltown and Cortoon Shamrocks in the other semi-final.

Salthill-Knocknacarra defeated Caltra 0-10 to 0-9 with Seamie Crowe leading the way. They led 0-6 to 0-3 against a Caltra side forced to start without the injured Meehan and while the Galway star made a late appearance he was unable to rescue the situation despite late points from brother Declan and Oisin Kelly.

Crowe gave the champions an edge in the opening half where former Roscommon player Gary Cox was also a key figure for the winners.

Salthill held a three points advantage entering the closing stages thanks to a couple of points from Sean Armstrong and while Caltra rallied after Meehan was introduced ten minutes from the end, the champions held on.

Former Kildare player James Kavanagh looked set to give Milltown victory with a late point but ex-Galway star Derek Savage produced a stoppage time equaliser for Cortoon Shamrocks. Michael Martin was effective for Milltown against his former club but neither side was able to pull away in a very tight encounter. The sides were level seven times, turning around deadlocked at 0-5 each.

The replay has been scheduled for Saturday and promises to be another tight affair.

In the battle of the two Galway city teams St James’ produced a strong second half performance to overcome St Michael’s to book a place in the semi-finals.

The sides were deadlocked at 0-2 each at the end of the opening quarter, but after James’ took the lead at the start of the second quarter St Michael’s replied with a goal when Eamon O’Donnell set up Damien Connaughton to finish clinically.

Paul Conroy and Eoin Concannon restored the lead for James’ but three successive points from Eddie Hoare and John Carroll had St Michael’s a point ahead at the break.

The second half belonged to St James’ as three points from Paul Conroy, a brace from Eoin Concannon and efforts from Sean Donnellan and Shane Coughlan pushed the east city side into a 0-13 to 1-5 advantage. It was six minutes from the end before St Michael’s opened their second half account as St James’ coasted to the finish line for a 0-14 to 1-7 win.

Three second half goals from Galway U21 Ian Burke gave Corofin a facile 6-18 to 1-7 victory over Naomh Anna/Leitir Moir.

A goal from Michael Farragher after just three minutes set the pace as Corofin went four points ahead at the end of the opening quarter.

However a goal from Fiachra Breathnach gave Naomh Anna / Leitir Moir a lifeline and a succession of points put the Connemara side ahead approaching the break, but a Ronan Steede point left the sides deadlocked at 1-6 each at half time.

However with the breeze Corofin quickly put the game out of sight with Ian Burke and Alan O’Donovan crashing in successive goals and by the 40th minute Burke had netted again.

Burke, who recently returned from the United States, had his third goal before the end of the third quarter and Alan O’Donovan added his second and Corofin’s sixth by the 50th minute.