Salthill pipped St Michael's

By BILLY COSS Salthill-Knocknacarra .0-13 St Michael's .0-12 SALTHILL-Knocknacarra may have struggled to recapture their blistering form from the early rounds of last year's campaign yet their challenge for a third SFC title remains on track after a patchy performance was just about enough to see off city neighbours St Michael's in this last 16 tie at Pearse Stadium on Saturday evening.[private] St. Michael's escaped a high-pressure relegation battle with one of the most mprobable results of the Championship, surprising Moycullen in their â€Ëœback door' clash seven days earlier, and despite the benefit of that tough game under their belts, as well as the injury that ruled out Salthill captain Finian Hanley, the margin that existed between the sides in late May still looked too much to bridge.  Eight points separated the teams in Salthill's favour only four weeks earlier but it was clear from St. Michael's strong start that it would be much tighter and competitive this time around. Alan Glynn and Cian McClafferty, outstanding in his man-marking role on Séamie Crowe, were both superb early on as the St. Michael's defence laid the groundwork for a deserved 5-3 lead. Eamon O'Donnell and the ever-dangerous Conor Hoctor struck excellent points from play although their attempts to supply Shane Maughan in open play were nullified by Salthill's Cian Begley, filling in at full-back for Hanley. A 22-minute scoring drought was to follow from St Michael's and that fade-out left the door open for a Salthill-Knocknacarra team that upped their game and gradually took control with a run of five points without reply. Conor Healy and former Roscommon player Gary Cox scored and once Salthill-Knocknacarra went more direct, Seán Armstrong got the upper hand in his duel with Glynn. Although well contained early on, the current Galway senior finished with a seven points in total, five from frees, and was the game's most influential player. Salthill-Knocknacarra led 6-5 at the break, 9-6 after 40 minutes and though St Michael's briefly drew level, appeared to have pulled clear when leading 13-9 with less than 10 minutes remaining. However, Gerry Hughes's team found themselves on the back foot for most of the remainder as St. Michael's overcame the dismissal of sub Adrian Scanlon, following a straight red card offence, to produce a driving finish as points from Damien Connaughton and two more Maughan frees cut the margin to just one. Peter Curran's men kept pressing and could have forced extra-time but Eddie Hoare's last-gasp 45 dropped short and Salthill-Knocknacarra deservedly, albeit unconvincingly, held on to secure their place in the last eight. Salthill-Knocknacarra: C. Connolly; G. Canavan, C. Begley, captain, K. Conlon; B. Malone, S. Gavin (0-1), C. Halloran; C. Healy (0-2), J. Boylan; A. Kerins, G. Cox (0-2), T. Burke; S. Crowe, S. Armstrong (0-7, five frees), G. Ó Leidhinn. Subs: B. Conlon (0-1), for Ó Leidhinn, half-time; R. McTiernan, for Gavin, 45 mins; D. Flaherty, for McTiernan inj., 62 mins. St. Michael's: B. Sheridan; F. Duggan, A. Glynn, C. McClafferty; K. Clancy, J. Downes, E. Tummon; E. Hoare, captain (0-2, one free), E. O'Donnell (0-2); F. Daly, C. Hoctor (0-2), P. Regan; T. Curran, S. Maughan (0-5, all frees), D. Connaughton (0-1). Subs: P. McTigue, for Curran, half-time; J. Tierney, for Tummon, 47 mins; A. Scanlon, for Downes, 55 mins; D. McDonagh for Regan, 57 mins; P. Regan, for Daly inj., 62 mins. Referee: Gerry Guinan. Herald Sport Man of the Match: Seán Armstrong (Salthill-Knocknacarra). [/private]