Culhane strikes late as Salthill-Knocknacarra dethrone Maigh Cuilinn

One of the most sensational finishes in Galway SFC final history.

Salthill-Knocknacarra2-12

Maigh Cuilinn1-14

THEY'LL be reliving this in Salthill-Knocknacarra for a long, long time to come after Tomo Culhane and his teammates delivered what may well rank as the most sensational finish in Galway Senior Football Championship final history.

When Paul Kelly's 56th minute levelling goal was followed by a magnificent Peter Cooke two-pointer in added time, Maigh Cuilinn looked primed to retain the Frank Fox Cup for the first time.

But Salthill-Knocknacarra's leaders came to the fore with one last shot at glory. John Maher and man of the match Matthew Thompson combined brilliantly and super sub Culhane, taking his personal haul to 1-6, slid home the winning goal as the city club reversed final defeats to Maigh Cuilinn in 2022 and '25.

"I was 100 per cent sure we were done," winning manager Finian Hanley said after. "Maigh Cuilinn are such a strong team. There were strong favourites coming in for a very good reason as they had dismantled everyone.

"We know our boys over the last few years, they never die. And to be honest, last year whilst they lost, we couldn't have been prouder. They couldn't have done any more. A bit of luck didn't go their way. They were absolutely brilliant. As good last year as they were tonight. Tonight, they got over the line, last year they didn't. It's fine margins."

It all looked so different late in the opening half. Salthill-Knocknacarra were aided by the elements, but their prospects appeared remote when failing to raise a flag of any description until Mark Mannion pointed in the 25th minute.

Maigh Cuilinn had four to their name by then - all from the boot of Dessie Conneely - before Culhane's introduction in the 21st minute proved a game changer. He thumped over a pair of two-pointers either side of a free to leave the interval scoreline at 0-6 to 0-4 in Salthill-Knocknacarra's favour.

Maigh Cuilinn still in the box seat. Or so it seemed with the wind to come in the second half. However, Salthill-Knocknacarra would outscore their opponents by 1-3 to two points in a blistering opening five minutes after the resumption.

Conneely's fifth point cancelled out a Colm Finnerty punched effort and after Paddy Kitt and Matthew Thompson efforts extended the city club's lead out to three, Finnerty proceeded to double it by finishing off Salthill-Knocknacarra's opening goal to make it 1-9 to 0-5.

Though Niall Walsh and Conneely, Maigh Cuilinn's top scorers in the championship, replied with a run of scores, Salthill-Knocknacarra remained firmly in the ascendancy with a 1-12 to 0-9 advantage at the three-quarter mark following points from captain Daniel O'Flaherty, Culhane (free) and Thompson.

However, they would enter a 17-minute barren spell during which time Maigh Cuilinn took over and wiped out the deficit. White and orange flags from Niall Walsh came before Paul Kelly finished superbly to the net in the 56th minute after Owen Gallagher struck the crossbar.

Level at 1-12 apiece, a thrilling second half boiled down to added time and Cooke appeared to have tilted the balance with a pure strike from 50 metres. However, Salthill-Knocknacarra had other ideas as Maher, Thompson and Culhane combined to secure a fourth title for the city club.

SALTHILL-KNOCKNACARRA: R. Lavelle; D. Conneely, D. Kiely, E. Wynne; P. Kitt (0-1), A. Mannion, M. Mannion (0-1); J. Maher, M. Kitt; C. Sweeney, M. Thompson (0-2), M. Mullery; C. Finnerty (1-1), R. Finnerty, R. Walzer. Subs: C. O’Toole, for P. Kitt (temporary), 16-21 mins & for Mullery, half-time; D. O'Flaherty (0-1), for A. Mannion, half-time; T. Culhane (1-6, two 0-2 scores, 0-2 frees), for Walzer, 21 mins; D. Hoare, for Sweeney, 52 mins; M. Culhane, for M. Kitt, 60 mins.

MAIGH CUILINN: N. O’Donnell; M. Hynes, E. Kelly, C. Corcoran; A. Claffey, S. Kelly, S. O’Connor; P. Kelly (1-0), G. Davoren; J. Moloney, N. Walsh (0-5, one 0-2 score), P. Cooke (0-2, 0-2 score); Fionn McDonagh, Fiachra McDonagh, D. Conneely (0-6, one 0-2 score, 0-2 frees). Subs: O. Gallagher (0-1), for Fiachra McDonagh, half-time; J. McLaughlin, for Moloney, 39 mins; Fiachra McDonagh, for Fionn McDonagh, 52 mins.

REFEREE: Shane Curley.

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH:

Matthew Thompson (Salthill-Knocknacarra).

*** Read this week's Tuam Herald for in-depth coverage and post-match reaction ***