Rob Finnerty fires Salthill-Knocknacarra into Galway final rematch with Maigh Cuilinn

Salthill are aiming to win their first Galway SFC title since 2012

Rob Finnerty scored nine points for Salthill-Knocknacarra in the victory over Corofin. Pic: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Galway SFC semi-final: Salthill-Knocknacarra 0-15 Corofin 2-7 

Salthill-Knocknacarra advanced to a Galway SFC showdown against a Maigh Cuilinn side who defeated them in last year’s decider as they saw off the challenge of the 2023 and 2024 champions Corofin.

Finian Hanley’s men were good value for their victory and held an edge for most of the contest at Pearse Stadium. It will be the third time in five years that they have faced Maigh Cuilinn in the final as they bid for their first crown since 2012.

Salthill-Knocknacarra, aided by the breeze, did most of the running in the opening half and were good value for their 0-9 to 0-4 lead after 28 minutes.

Rob Finnerty, who came into the game with a haul of 5-19 in the Galway championship this year, kicked a couple of two-pointers and Matthew Thompson and Daniel O’Flaherty also raised a couple of orange flags in the opening half.

Corofin kept in touch with a two-pointer from captain Dylan McHugh and one apiece from Ross Coen and Kieran Molloy.

But then in first-half stoppage time Shane Canavan got through for a goal for Corofin and the experienced Micheal Lundy followed up with a point to leave them trailing by just a point at 0-9 to 1-5 with wind advantage to come in the second-half.

Salthill-Knocknacarra started the second-half well with Finnerty adding a point and sub Tomo Culhane, back from injury, adding another to lead by 0-11 to 1-5 after 35 minutes.

Molloy cut the gap to the minimum four minutes later with a superb two-pointer for Corofin.

Sub Cillian O’Toole and Finnerty hit the target for Salthill-Knocknacarra to take a 0-13 to 1-7 lead into the final quarter.

But that lead was wiped out eight minutes from time when sub Patrick Egan burst through to set up Jason Leonard who blasted to the net to level the teams at 0-13 to 2-7.

Finnerty pointed a free to edge Salthill-Knocknacarra back in front and then added one from play after a good turnover from the superb Thompson as Corofin pressed.

Canavan went close with a goal chance for Corofin but Salthill-Knocknacarra, with Galway captain John Maher superb in the middle of the field, held on for victory.

Scorers for Salthill-Knocknacarra: R Finnerty (0-9, 2tp, 3fs), D O’Flaherty and M Thompson (0-2 each, tp each), T Culhane and C O’Toole (0-1 each).

Scorers for Corofin: K Molloy (0-3, tp), S Canavan and J Leonard (1-0 each), D McHugh (0-2, tp), M Lundy and R Coen (0-1 each).

SALTHILL-KNOCKNACARRA: R Lavelle; D Conneely, D Kiely, E Wynne; M Mannion, D O’Flaherty, A Mannion; J Maher, N Hanahoe; C Sweeney, M Mullery, M Thompson; B Conlon, R Finnerty, C Power.

Subs: T Culhane for Power (21, injury), M Culhane for Sweeney (25, injury), C O’Toole for Conlon (half-time), P Kitt for Aaron Mannion (44), R Walzer for O’Flaherty (54, injury).

COROFIN: D Canney; B Cogger, L Silke, B Coen; D McHugh, V Gill, K Molloy; C Brady, S Canavan; A Looney, D Silke, J Leonard; M Lundy, J McCabe, R Coen.

Subs: P Egan for Looney (43), D Wall for Coen (50), K Joyce for Lundy (50), M Farragher for McCabe (60).