Maigh Cuilinn 1-17 Salthill/Knocknacarra 1-15
Maigh Cuilinn captured their third Galway SFC title when they held off a comeback from Salthill/Knocknacarra in an exciting final at Pearse Stadium.
Salthill/Knocknacarra came from four points down to get level with ten minutes remaining but Maigh Cuilinn pushed on to add to their successes of 2020 and 2022 after losing the last two finals to Corofin.
Maigh Cuilinn, backed by the wind, led by 1-11 to 1-06 at the end of a lively opening half which begun with Galway captain Sean Kelly racing through to fire home a goal after just 30 seconds.
Maigh Cuilinn built on that brilliant start with Fionn McDonagh pushing them 1-01 to 0-0 in front after less than two minutes.
Salthill/Knocknacarra, forced to line out without their injured captain, All Star John Maher, got off the mark when goalkeeper Donal O'Sullivan steered a 45 between the posts after his opposite number Pierce Greally did well to deflect a flick from Tomo Culhane around the post.
Dessie Conneely responded with a two-pointer free for Maigh Cuilinn and former Offaly captain Johnny Moloney added a point to lead by 1-04 to 0-01 after nine minutes.
Rob Finnerty kept Salthill/Knocknacarra in the game with three points, two of them from play, in response to a Paul Kelly effort but then after Young Player of the Year nominee Matthew Thompson got the first of his points for Salthill/Knocknacarra they got back on level terms nine minutes from the break when Finnerty squeezed home a penalty in the right corner after Daniel O’Flaherty was fouled by Sean Kelly.
Peter Cooke, who had missed most of Maigh Cuilinn’s campaign as he was working in the United States in recent months, was drafted from the bench and the Galway player made a huge impact.
Cooke, who made his bow in this year’s championship when he came on as a sub in their semi-final win over Tuam Stars, landed a couple of two-pointers after being narrowly off target with his first effort.
Thompson got his second point before the break but they went in trailing by five as Sean Kelly and Conneely hit the target.
Salthill/Knocknacarra hit three wides in the opening four minutes of the second half but a free from Finnerty and then a two-pointer from a placed ball by the All Star got the margin down to two after 37 minutes.
Niall Walsh and Fionn McDonagh responded for Maigh Cuilinn to make it 1-13 to 1-09 but then Salthill/Knocknacarra took over and hit the front after a two-pointer from Thompson got them level after he and Cathal Sweeney had found the range.
Then Rob Walzer edged Salthill/Knocknacarra in front for the first time but Maigh Cuilinn responded.
Conneely levelled three minutes from time before he landed a two-point free and when Finnerty cut the gap to the minimum in the first of six minutes of added time, Sean Kelly sealed the win with a late point.
Maigh Cuilinn: Pierce Greally, Aidan Claffey, Michael Moughan, Eoghan Kelly; Sean O’Connor, Sean Kelly (1-02), David Wynne; Paul Kelly (0-01), Tom Clarke; Johnny Moloney (0-01), Niall Walsh (0-01), Ger Davoren; Fionn McDonagh (0-02), Fiachra McDonagh, Dessie Conneely (0-06, 2tpf, 1f).
Subs: Peter Cooke (0-04, 2tp) for Davoren (20), Neil Mulcahy for Clarke (39), Davoren for Fiachra McDonagh (46), James McLoughlin for O’Connor (52).
Salthill/Knocknacarra: Donal O’Sullivan (0-01, 45); Dara Conneely, Evan Wynne, Eoghan Deely; Mark Mannion, Aaron Mannion, Cathal Sweeney (0-01); Michael Kitt, Niall Hanahoe; Charlie Power, Matthew Thompson (0-05, 1tp), Daniel O’Flaherty; Evan Nolan, Rob Finnerty (1-07, 1-00p, 1tpf, 3f), Tomo Culhane.
Subs: Mikey Culhane for M Kitt (half-time), Paddy Kitt for A Mannion (half-time), Rob Walzer (0-01) for Nolan (43), James McDermott for M Culhane (53), M Kitt for Deely (55).
Referee: Christopher Ryan (Killannin).
