Moycullen1-10

Salthill-Knocknacarra 1-9

Pádraic Ó Ciardha at Pearse Stadium

Having clocked up the airmiles to play a decisive role in getting Moycullen to this year’s county final, Peter Cooke took to the skies once more last Sunday to win his side the Galway senior football championship for the second time in three seasons.

Two quickfire points from Salthill-Knocknacarra’s Evan Nolan looked like tipping this closely-fought final in their direction but the decisive score came in the 56th minute when Cooke rose highest to get a hand to Owen Gallagher’s dropping shot. The ball ended up in the back of the net, putting Moycullen back into the lead for the first time since midway through the first half and they saw out the match expertly to follow up their maiden title two years ago.

It was fitting that it was Cooke who got the crucial goal for Moycullen. The midfielder missed out on that 2020 success while in the US but Cooke, who is still based stateside, has been in superb form throughout this campaign, clearly intent on getting a taste of what his friends and teammates enjoyed that first time around.

The experience gained from that first county title was probably the decisive factor in getting Moycullen over the line in this one. Heavily-favoured before the game, Don Connellan’s side failed to hit the heights they did Mountbellew-Moylough just seven days previous.

Those efforts might have had an effect on their performance in the final but Salthill-Knocknacarra still defended superbly against Moycullen’s running game and when John O’Mahony’s men went two points clear late on, it looked like it might be enough to win a first county title in ten years. Moycullen never panicked, however. They are still a young team but it is packed with leaders and character and it showed in those final minutes.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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