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By Larry Cooney

AIB All-Ireland Club Football Quarter-Final

Salthill-Knocknacarra (Galway) 0-9 Tir Chonaill Gaels (London) 0-5

Salthill-Knocknacarra progressed as expected to the All-Ireland football semi-final after an unimpressive victory over Tir Chonaill Gaels at Ruislip.

However the London champions will rue the missed opportunity of what could have been an historic victory after spurning a succession of scoring chances in an error-ridden game.

Not even the numerical advantage afforded to them late in the game by referee Paddy Russell after he correctly red-carded two of the visiting team could rescue the Gaels after a desperately disappointing performance from their highly-rated attack. In the end the Gaels had to settle for another case of what might have been as Salthill stuttered to a flattering four-point victory.

Although it will be little consolation to the London champions to realise how effective their game-plan had worked from the throw-in, the fact that their attack managed to score only three points from play in the entire game will also be a huge disappointment to their mentors. Four wides in the opening five minutes looked promising for the hosts but unfortunately for the Gaels also set the tone of the game until the final whistle.

Defending the pavilion end, the opening quarter belonged to the hosts but despite monopolising possession they had to settle for a point apiece after Alan Kerins equalised Declan Meehan’s 13th minute opening point. The normally reliable JP Boyle had already been experiencing an ‘off-day’ from placed balls and his confidence cannot have been helped by some of his early missed opportunities from scoreable frees.

Both sides looked tense in the opening quarter but already it appeared the Salthill attack carried the greater potential. A Seamie Crowe free edged them in front after 18 minutes before Tir Chonail Gaels influential centre back Paddy McConigley joined the attack to kick the best score of the opening period after 25 minutes.

Although early Gaels midfield domination was not as effective towards the end of the first-half, the Salthill management were still concerned about how to deal with the fine displays of Gary Kane and Declan Meehan. Nevertheless Salthill were also beginning to counter attack more effectively and within the space of two minutes had taken a two-point lead through Sean Armstrong and wing-back Anthony McDermott.

However the Gaels battled back into contention just before the interval to force a ’45 just before the half-time whistle. After missing a number of close-in frees earlier in the half JP Boyle cut the deficit to a single point from the resultant free kick to leave the score Salthill 0-4 Tir Chonaill Gaels 0-3.

Despite an inept performance from the visitors the Salthill management resisted the temptation to make changes at the interval. The visitors were expected to close out the game in the third quarter but once again Tir Chonaill Gaels opened brightly.

However a three-minute delay while Paddy McConigley received attention five minutes after the resumption disrupted the rhythm of the exchanges. Both sides then decided to make their first substitutions with John Boylan replacing Maurice Sheridan for the visitors while Anthony Johnson replaced Declan Meehan in the Gaels midfield four minutes later.

The Gaels continued to offer stubborn resistance and were offered a gilt-edged opportunity to equalise from a 41st-minute free. Unfortunately JP Boyle’s attempt went to the left of the posts. Niall Quinn was then introduced into the Gaels attack as a replacement for Barry McDonagh.

Finally the Gaels eventually forced a deserved equaliser when the busy Francis Cleary was fouled in front of the posts after 43 minutes. JP Boyle made no mistake on this occasion and the Gaels looked poised to cause a sensation with the momentum clearly in their favour.

Unfortunately two defensive blunders within two minutes including one from goalkeeper Paul McBearty handed the initiative straight back to the visitors and proved the turning point of the game. Two points from Alan Kerins and Sean Armstrong set up the eventual victory for Salthill as Gaels introduced O’ Mahoney for Walsh and the visitors replaced McDermott with PJ Kelly after 50 minutes.

Salthill increased their lead two minutes later after a fine individual effort was punched over the bar by substitute John Boylan. However the Gaels refused to submit and a Francis Cleary point still offered them some hope just before the first of the late Salthill dismissals.

Only five minutes after coming on the pitch, substitute PJ Kelly inflicted a dangerous high tackle on Niall Quinn as he headed for goal. However Salthill finished strongly with two further points from Armstrong and Crowe in added time to leave the final score Salthill-Knocknacarra 0-9 Tir Chonaill Gaels 0-5.

As Crowe’s effort sailed over the bar his midfield colleague Barry Dooney was involved in an off-the ball incident as he aimed a kick at Gary Kane for the visitors’ second dismissal just before the final whistle.

Team Line-Ups...

Salthill-Knocknacarra: C McGinley; R McTiernan, F Hanley, C Begley; M O’Connell, G Morley, A McDermott; M Donnellan, B Dooney; S Rabbitte, A Kerins, D Burke; S Crowe, M Sheridan, S Armstrong. Subs: J Boylan for Sheridan, PJ Kelly for McDermott, N Tyrrell for Armstrong.

Tir Chonaill Gaels: B McBearty; R Walsh, P Callaghan, S Boyle; M Kelly, P McConigley, H Cunningham; D Meehan, G Kane; F Cleary, E Sweeney, B McDonagh; F Hoban, A Gallagher, JP Boyle. Subs: A Johnson for Meehan, B O’Mahoney for Walsh, N Quinn for McDonagh, E Brosnan for Gallagher.

Scorers...

Salthill: S Crowe (0-3) (0-1f), A Kerins, S Armstrong (0-2 each), A McDermott, J Boylan (0-1 each).

Tir Chonaill Gaels: JP Boyle (0-2) (0-1 45, 0-1 free), D Meehan, P McConigley, F Cleary (0-1 each).

Player Ratings...

Tir Chonaill Gaels

B McBearty (8) Although he gifted a point to Alan Kerins the Tir Chonaill Gaels goalkeeper had a fine game including one superb save that kept his side in the match in the second-half.

R Walsh (6) Never reached the level of form that he displayed in the county final.

P Callaghan (8) Another superb game from the most improved player in London. Looks certain for a permanent place on the county team.

S Boyle (7) Played well throughout and recovered well from first-half injury.

M Kelly (7) Good solid game from the Derry man facing his old teammates.

P McConigley (9) Followed his man-of-the-match county final performance with another top display. One of the best players in London and looks likely to be a key figure in the national football league.

H Cunningham (8) Great display from Cunningham who covered and cleared effectively as well as holding his man scoreless.

D Meehan (7) Played well until his second-half substitution. Scored a fine opening point.

G Kane (8) Magnificent game from Kane and not far behind McConigley in the man-of-the-match ratings.

F Cleary (7) Foraged well and ran his heart out and scored a well-deserved point.

E Sweeney (6) Could have been more effective with some of the possession he frequently gained.

B McDonagh (5) Never got into the game and was well off the pace before his inevitable substitution.

F Hoban (5) Disappointing performance from one of the Gaels big-hitters.

A Gallagher (6) Never stopped trying but failed to get the better of Hanley. Tough test for one of the Gaels’ brightest stars.

JP Boyle (5) Failed to deliver on the big occasion.

Salthill-Knocknacarra

C McGinley (6) Had a shaky opening quarter when Salthill were on the back-foot but otherwise did well.

R McTiernan (8) Sound game all through and held JP Boyle scoreless from play.

F Hanley (7) Sound performance from full-back with some excellent fielding. Never allowed Andy Gallagher any real scope.

C Begley (7) Held Fergal Hoban scoreless and never put a foot wrong when defence came under pressure in opening quarter.

M O’Connell (9) Salthill’s man-of-the-match had an outstanding game from start to finish. Defended and covered well and also joined in the attack at every opportunity

G Morley (7) Marshalled the Salthill defence well and generally got the better of Eamon Sweeney.

A McDermott (7) Scored a fine point in the first-half and played his part in a fine defensive display for the Galway champions

M Donnellan (6) Failed to live up to this reputation despite playing in a number of positions.

B Dooney (7) Despite the blemish of his late dismissal, Dooney did much to turn the game around for Salthill after their shaky opening quarter.

S Rabbitte (6) Sound but unspectacular, he found it difficult to fend off an in-form Hughie Cunningham.

A Kerins (8) Had a fine game on Tir Chonaill Gaels best player and helped himself to two points.

D Burke (6) Never got any scope from the tenacious Micky Kelly but never stopped trying.

S Crowe (8) Impressed throughout and scored two points on Stephen Boyle who was one of the Gaels best performers.

M Sheridan (5) Fell well below his previous form and although he moved outfield he still could not make things happen.

S Armstrong. (8) A constant thorn in the Gaels’ side, the former Galway U-21 star was one of Salthill’s best forwards.