Salthill/Knocknacarra 0-12

Dunmore MacHales    0-7

DARREN KELLY AT TUAM STADIUM

ROBERT Finnerty’s return was the icing on the cake for Salthill/Knocknacarra last Saturday as they booked their place in the senior football championship semi-finals for the first time since 2022.

Finian Hanley’s side didn’t put in a vintage display that will be required when they challenge current title holders Corofin in the final four, but there were still positives to take from this 60+ minute effort.

As well as Finnerty ending his two month hiatus since the All-Ireland Final in Croke Park, John Maher put in another commanding display. But pride of place went to substitute Evan Murphy who entered the fray at half-time and kicked four points.

For Dunmore MacHales, they brought the curtain down on a positive season as well as the Gary Delaney era. The manager announced he was stepping down in charge of the Shafts afterwards.

They were county and Connacht intermediate champions in 2022. And this year, they won the Division 3B league in June before reaching their first championship quarter-final in 22 years.

And for the first 30 minutes in particular, they showed that they belonged in the upper echelons of Galway football. It took seven minutes for scoring to begin before Conor Mitchell won a free. Galway goalkeeper Connor Gleeson split the posts from 40 yards.

The north Galway team were enjoying the better of possession but left some chances behind. However, after winning a ’45 on 10 minutes, Gleeson caught his opponents off guard and passed across to Shane McGrath who pushed forward for the second point.

Salthill/Knocknacarra entered as strong favourites with three wins and three clean sheets and finally opened their account on 11 minutes when captain Paddy Kitt demanded more urgency and sent a ball into Robert Walzer who claimed the mark.

They levelled on the quarter hour through Matthew Thompson’s free but the city club had a scare beforehand. Jake Slattery and Jamie Coen attacked down the left before a pass into the square. A defender’s hand intercepted but the ball only just shaved the post going out for a ’45.

Pictured: Salthill-Knocknacarra’s Evan Murphy on the attack against Dylan Brady of Dunmore MacHales during Saturday’s senior football quarter-final at Tuam Stadium. Photos: David Cunniffe.