Salthill-Knocknacarra 0-14

St Michael’s 0-10

By Pádraic Ó Ciardha at Pearse Stadium

A late scoring burst saw Salthill-Knocknacarra make it three wins from three in the Galway senior football championship as they overcame neighbours St Michael’s at Pearse Stadium on Sunday evening.

With both sides’ places at the top and the bottom of Group 1 secured before the weekend began, this one had the feel of the deadest of dead rubbers for long periods but Salthill-Knocknacarra’s display in the final ten minutes will have at least pleased Finian Hanley in what was a lacklustre performance overall.

Down by three with seven minutes of normal time remaining, Salthill-Knocknacarra kicked the last six scores, including a two-point free from goalkeeper Dónal O’Sullivan, to turn things around.

While Rob Finnerty and Tomo Culhane played no part, Salthill-Knocknacarra still had plenty of intercounty experience on the field with Matthew Thompson, John Maher and Daniel O’Flaherty doing good work but it was the likes of Paddy Kitt and Robert Waltzer who impressed most, the pair contributing 0-5 of their sides total, with goalkeeper O’Sullivan also kicking a couple of important scores when needed. Salthill-Knocknacarra’s spread of seven scorers was in marked contrast to their opponents, who were almost exclusively reliant on one man.

With Conal Gallagher and Dave Cunnane out injured for St Michael’s, Gary Higgins made a welcome return from suspension for his 2025 championship debut and immediately set about showcasing what an important player he is for the Westside outfit.

Higgins kicked all but one of St Michael’s scores on the day and while they all came from placed balls, the conditions were such that none of them were tapovers and his three two-point scores, including a sideline, were out of the very top drawer. With a relegation semi-final against Annaghdown ahead of them, the dependability of Higgins will be vital if Michael’s are to avoid an immediate return to the Intermediate grade.

It was Higgins, invariably, who got St Michael’s off the mark after Fionan Cruise was fouled in the third minute as Salthill-Knocknacarra struggled playing into the breeze, failing to find the target with any of their first four shots. Higgins then showed how to do it, kicking an exquisite score from a sideline ball 45m out on the stand side to make it 0-3 to 0-0 after 13 minutes.

The score might have sparked the locals into life as Salthill-Knocknacarra soon went on a five-point scoring burst. Matthew Thompson set up Evan Nolan to kick their opening effort midway through the half before Mark Mannion cut in off the left wing to land a fine effort a couple of minutes later.

Pictured: Salthill-Knocknacarra’s Matthew Thompson on the ball against Cathal Meagher of St Michael’s during the clubs’ Senior Football encounter at Pearse Stadium on Sunday. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.