Moycullen down Salthill-Knocknacarra to claim their third Galway SFC title

David Wynne lifts the cup after the Galway County Senior Club Football Championship final. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile.

Moycullen 1-17 Salthill-Knocknacarra 1-15

Clutch. With five minutes remaining, Moycullen were one point down having scored just twice in the second half. They responded with three of the next four scores to clinch a third Frank Fox Cup.

It was their key players that pulled them through. Dessie Conneely found room for a crucial point before landing a two-point free into the wind. Sean Kelly hit the final point of the tie.

Salthill had two chances to level it in the final minute, but Tomo Culhane missed with both frees from outside the arc.

At half-time, Moycullen led 1-11 to 1-6 having played with a significant breeze. They really took advantage of it when Peter Cooke made his mark from the bench.

The Galway senior, who only returned for the semi-final having been Stateside, came off the bench after 20 minutes and swung over two awesome two-pointers.

It was a dream start for the underdogs with Galway captain Sean Kelly squeezing in a goal from the throw-in. In typical fashion, he collected outside the opposition’s 45, sized up a defender and torched him. Daniel O’Flaherty did all he could to apply sufficient pressure. It wasn’t enough.

Moycullen supporters celebrate. Pic:Tyler Miller/Sportsfile.

The nature of high-level football is that it’s a series of these pivotal showdowns, over and over again. O’Flaherty had his chance to roar back soon after. Niall Hanahoe broke a Moycullen kickout and the exciting prospect took off.

It took a give-and-go with Tomo Culhane for Kelly to foul him and Finnerty slotted the penalty.

In the entire first half, Salthill won three Moycullen kickouts and mined 1-1 from that. Their path to victory was clear. Squeeze Greally’s restarts and slice through. It got them close.

Finnerty added two frees before Cathal Sweeney missed a huge goal chance and the wound was worsened when Donie O’Sullivan missed the 45. In 2022 these sides met in the decider with Moycullen edging it.

Young Footballer of the Year nominee Matthew Thompson was in his first season as a senior player. He came on in the last ten minutes of that final, had one shot and watched it go wide. They lost by one.

Here he was immense, finishing with five points including an orange flag that brought the stand to their feet.

But Moycullen’s collective capacity was greater. James McLaughlin came in for his first appearance of the championship and was impactful on kickouts.

Former Offaly captain Johnny Moloney and Leitrim senior Niall Walsh both scored. Cooke’s contribution was valuable. Sean Kelly was named Man of the Match.

Scorers for Moycullen: D. Conneely 0-6 (two tpf, 1f); S. Kelly 1-2; P. Cooke 0-4 (two tp); Fionn McDonagh 0-2; P. Kelly, N. Walsh, J. Moloney 0-1.

Scorers for Salthill-Knocknacarra: R. Finnerty 1-7 (1-0 pen, 1 tpf, 3f); M. Thompson 0-5 (1 tp); R. Walzer, C. Sweeney, D. O’Sullivan (45) 0-1 each.

MOYCULLEN: P. Greally; A. Claffey, E. Kelly, M. Moughan; D. Wynne, S. Kelly, S. O’Connor; P. Kelly, T. Clarke; J. Moloney, N. Walsh, G. Davoren; F. McDonagh, F. McDonagh, D. Connelly.

Subs: P. Cooke for Davoren (21); N. Mulcahy for Clarke (39); Davoren for Fionn McDonagh (45); J. McLaughlin for O’Connor (53).

SALTHILL-KNOCKNACARRA: D. O’Sullivan, E. Deely,E. Wynne, D. Conneely; A. Mannion, M. Mannion, D. O’Flaherty; M. Kitt, N. Hanahoe; C. Sweeney, M. Thompson, C. Power; T. Culhane, R. Finnerty, E. Nolan.

Subs: P. Kitt for A. Mannion, M. Culhane for M. Kitt (half-time); R. Walzer for Nolan (43); J. McDermott for M. Culhane (54); M. Kitt for Deely (55- Inj).

Referee: C. Ryan (Killannin).