Brave Ballyglass gunned down by Galway giants
Salthill Devon goalkeeper Arek Mamala can only watch as Jack Keane rolls the ball into the net for the second goal for Ballyglass in the Connacht Cup third round clash in Ballyglass on Saturday. Picture: Tom Quinn
A valiant display by Ballyglass was ultimately in vain as they fell to Galway junior giants Salthill Devon in the Connacht Junior Cup last Saturday afternoon.
The visitors, who sit second in the Galway Premier Division, were heavy favourites going into this cup tie and are among the strong contenders hoping to dethrone Castlebar Celtic - with former Celtic defender Cathal Coyne starting at centre-back - and Salthill took control early on at a bitterly cold Michael Keaveney Park.
Ballyglass were not intimidated in the least however and they almost took the lead on nine minutes. Cathal Slattery’s inviting pass almost picked out Liam Hughes, but the latter just missed out on receiving possession.
If even half-chances are not taken against this Salthill side, you will get punished and they took the lead after 22 minutes. Colin Kelly saw his initial shot stopped by McGurrin but the Ballyglass shotstopper was powerless to deny Kelly converting the rebound Just before the half hour mark, Salthill made it 2-0 after Diala Princewell’s tidy effort from close-range and the Galway city side were unlucky not to add a third and kill the game off. Michael Gallagher had McGurrin beaten with his powerful strike, but the crossbar came to the rescue of the Candystripes.
Just before half-time, Salthill should have had this game dead and buried. Not for the first time, McGurrin came to the rescue, first to deny Princewell and then Colin Kelly in quick succession.
Ballyglass made a bright start to the second half, and the Swans pulled a goal back ten minutes after the restart. Evan Connolly, introduced alongside Oisin Moran, set up Liam Hughes and on this occasion, Hughes got control and buried his strike into the net.
The red and white were unfortunate not to equalise on the hour mark. Connolly was again involved, and he set up captain Darren Murray on this occasion, and Salthill goalkeeper Arek Mamola was happy to see Murray’s shot fly just over the crossbar.
Salthill restored their two-goal advantage five minutes later, with Gallagher not to be denied on this occasion with a powerful drive from outside the penalty area.
Yet Ballyglass refused to surrender, and they pulled another goal back thanks to Jack Keane with 15 minutes of normal time remaining. Keane then almost got Ballyglass an unlikely equaliser on 80 minutes, but his header went inches side of the post.
Salthill would finally end the brave Ballyglass resistance with one minute of normal time remaining with a quick counterattack that was finished off by Cole Connolly on the second attempt.
