Shock for the champions

By NOEL CARNEY Carna-Caiseal .2-6 Salthill-Knocknacarra .0-11 ON an emotional day for the club, the lion-hearted men of Carna-Caiseal produced the first big upset of the Bon Secours Hospital-Claregalway Hotel SFC weekend when they held on under intense pressure for a stunning first round win over reigning county champions Salthill-Knocknacarra at Pearse Stadium, Salthill on Saturday. While the local team were without a number of players including Finian Hanley, Ruairí McTiernan, Seán Hughes and Seamie Crowe who was introduced late on, this was a wonderful achievement for the winners who had attended a monthâ€â„¢s mind Mass the previous night for their comrade Daniel Ó Conaire who died suddenly four weeks ago. Daniel had been an important member of their team last year as they stormed to an impressive victory in the County Intermediate final which won them promotion to the senior grade. His sudden passing just after finishing his teaching exams in Limerick devastated his family and his club. No doubt he was very much in their thoughts throughout the weekend as they prepared for this big match.[private] On this, their return to the top tier, they battled fiercely for a win that was hard-earned but deserved. They did seem to be in trouble early on as Salthill-Knocknacarra, now under the management of their former goalkeeper Cathal McGinley, looked the better team but the C.C.s never lost heart. Seán Armstrong was in form for the seasiders, driving over spectacular points from all angles and distances, from play and from frees, and he ended up with ten of their eleven scores. However, he will be upset at failing to land a late equaliser from two chances, one of them a 35-metre pressure free, as Salthill pressed hard. The problem for the champions was that Armstrong did not get enough support, with wing-forward Gary Cox the only other player to trouble the umpires apart from making them signal wides. Luckily, they can go forward via the â€Ëœback doorâ€â„¢ route but a major step-up in performance is required if they are to retain their title. They had the wind behind them in the first half and all was going according to plan as Armstrong kicked three points, two of them difficult frees, without conceding a score until Seán Ó Cuirrín sent over a placed ball at the other end. The game then turned dramatically when the same player drove a free into the goalmouth where Seosamh Ó Cathasaigh won possession and rifled a priceless goal for a 1-1 to 0-3 lead. Almost immediately Seán Ó Cuirrín went close to another goal but he was foiled by some great goalkeeping by Cormac Connolly. Even though Seán Armstrong landed two more frees, one from out near the corner flag, Carna-Caiseal were growing in mental strength and after Ó Cuirrín drove over another free, captain Seosamh Seoige landed a superb score from a line-ball. Two more Armstrong frees were answered by a Seosamh Seoige effort from a 45-metre free so it was level, 0-7 to 1-4, at the break. Once again Salthill-Knocknacarra seemed to have wrested control when points by Armstrong and the hard-working Gary Cox put them clear but a Seán Ó Cuirrín free cut the gap and when a wonderful passing move ended with Seosamh Ó Cathasaigh driving in his second goal for a 2-5 to 0-9 lead at the three-quarter stage they were in pole position. In a frenetic but low-scoring final segment, Seán Armstrong landed a long distance free to halve the deficit but Seosamh Seoige steadied the Gaeltacht men with one from a free that wrapped up their scoring and when Armstrong landed an outrageous 50-metre effort from play they were living on their nerves. However, he was narrowly off target with those aforementioned efforts and Carna-Caiseal held on for a win that will stay long in the memory. Carna-Caiseal: D. Ó Dúbhda; V. Ó Feinneidh, C Mac An Rí, S. Ó Coirbín; C. Ó Cillín, Stiofán Ó Cuirín, Seán Ó Cuirrín (0-2, frees); S. Ó Cillín, M. Mac Fhlannchadha; S. Seoige (0-4, three frees, one sideline), Seán Ó Cathasiagh, C. Ó Dubháin; A. Ó Conaire, N. Ó Cadhain, Seosamh Ó Cathasaigh (2-0). Subs., S. Ó Flatharta, for Ó Conaire (56 mins). Salthill: C. Connolly; K. Conlon, C. Begley, E. Wynne; C. Halloran, G. Canavan, D. Oâ€â„¢Flaherty; J. Boylan, D. Tierney; G. Cox (0-1), R. Conlon, M. Heskin; C. Healy, S. Armstrong (0-10, six frees), B. Conlon. Subs: S. Gavin for R. Conlon (36 mins), J. Killeen for K. Conlon (43 mins), S. Crowe for B. Conlon (49 mins), S. Hughes for Healy (52 mins). Referee: PJ Rabbitte (Kilkerrin-Clonberne). Herald Man of the Match: Seán Ó Cuirrín (Carna-Caiseal). [/private]