GALWAY GAA: Salthill/Knocknacarra – Under 13 C Hurling Champions 

County Under 13 C Hurling Final – Thursday, 23rd August 2018 

Salthill/Knocknacarra 3-4 Killimor 2-4 

Darren Kelly in Duggan Park 

A case of two halves on a Thursday evening but Salthill/Knocknacarra made their chances count in the first half to become county under 13 C champions.

Goals for Niall Mannion, Shay Phillips and Robert Madden put the team managed by Clem Treacy and Pat Palmer seven points clear early in the second half.

However, Hubert Gordon and Seamus Rocke’s side deserve credit for mounting a comeback as Killimor hit goals through Conor Fahy and Colin Treacy to get within two points but couldn’t manage the third green flag that would have turned the momentum.

Mannion got Salthill/Knocknacarra’s first goal after just two minutes before Ronan Howe added a point and they were in a very good position in the seventh minute when they got the second major.

Again, Mannion was involved before Phillips kicked to the net and they were 2-1 to 0-0 clear.

Killimor hadn’t settled against the wind but managed to steady the ship and finally got off the mark on 17 minutes when captain Brian Horan converted his first free.  And when Fahy found the net in the final minute of the first half, Killimor were back in contention.

But the game’s crucial score was probably Salthill/Knocknacarra’s injury time strike.  Conor Keenan had an influence either side of the interval whistle and he helped set up Madden for their third goal and a 3-1 to 1-1 half-time advantage.

And when Howe set up Keenan for a point just 20 seconds after the restart, the city side looked home and dry.

But Killimor refused to throw in the towel and Treacy hit 1—1 by the 28th minute with Horan also on target.  A contest that looked lost was suddenly alive again.

Stephen Cullinane split the posts for Salthill/Knocknacarra but Horan got his third for Killimor though he was hoping to find the net.  They didn’t manage that goal and Cullinane concluded the scoring on 39 minutes before Mark Mannion was denied a clinching major in injury time.

Scorers: 

Salthill/Knocknacarra – Niall Mannion 1-0, Shay Phillips 1-0, Robert Madden 1-0, Stephen Cullinane 0-2 (both frees), Ronan Howe 0-1, Conor Keenan 0-1. 

Killimor – Colin Treacy 1-1, Brian Horan 0-3 (all frees), Conor Fahy 1-0. 

Salthill/Knocknacarra: James Palmer; Evan Jennings, Oisin Sweeney; Tiernan Howe, Brian Tolan, Ciaran Garvey; Stephen Cullinane, Mark Mannion; Ronan Howe, Robert Madden, Conor Keenan; Shay Phillips, Niall Mannion.

Killimor: Noel Forde; Ciaran Shiel, Paul Hardiman; Jamie Rocke, Eoghan Duffy, Padraig Dermody; Brian Horan, Conor Horan; Conor Fahy, Caomhan Campbell, Fionan Fitzgerald; Michael Conroy, Colin Treacy.

Referee: Trevor Lohan

Ocean Hygiene Supplies & Packaging Man of the Match: Evan Jennings (Salthill/Knocknacarra)