The game of soccer in Salthill really began with Christy Gilbert. He formed a club in the early 1940s called Salthill Crusaders and they played for several years with some success. Some of the players associated with the club were Harry Lupton, Donal Murray, Frank Lydon, Arthur Stephens, Brendan Collins, Tommy Stephens, Billy and Leo Shaw, and Donie Kelleher.
Our first photograph shows the Crusaders team of 1946. They are, back row, from left: -- Molloy, Grattan Road; John Costelloe, the Royal Hotel; Bert Morrow, Lower Salthill; John Holland, William Street; Gerry O’Neill, Palmyra Park; Seán Sarsfield, Sarsfield’s Hotel; Joe Brennan, Dalysfort Road. In front are Terry McCarthy, Lenaboy Gardens; Patsy Stephens, Kingshill; Mickey Walsh, Whitestrand Road; ‘Hockey’ Nestor, Fairhill; and Seán Fahy, Montpellier Terrace.
This club eventually disbanded and in the early 1950s another club was formed called Salthill Athletic. Their colours were blue and white stripes. They soon had a very successful under-age squad, and in the two seasons, 1955/56 and 1956/57, they won all the local competitions. In the latter season, they had a very good run in the FAI under-18 cup, getting to the quarter finals. Early club meetings were held in Mrs Shaw’s house in Lenaboy Park. Practices were held in Salthill Park with Bart Faherty providing dressing room facilities in his house. Some of the players involved were John Ryan, Billy McCarthy, Gus Murphy, Ned Nalty, Paddy Tomkins, Colie Rushe, Kieran Ryan, Vinny Fahy, Brian Delargy, Fran Holmes, and Willy Laffey. The club gradually faded out at the end of the fifties.
.
Our second photograph shows their under-17 team of 1957. They are, back row: Donal Morris, Christy O'Connor, John Lillis, Chuck O'Donnell, and Doug Molloy. In front are Paul Mannion, Gay Copperwhite, Danno Heaslip, Pete Faherty, Billy McCarthy, and Tony Barrett.
A game played in the Sportsground in July 1963 will surely rank as one of the highlights in the history of soccer in Salthill. To mark the visit of John F Kennedy to Galway and Salthill, a Salthill selection played an exhibition match against an Irish international selection. The Irish team, which included Eamonn Dunphy, Andy McEvoy, and Alan Kelly, won by two goals (Johnny Giles and Joe Haverty ) to one goal scored by Ned Nalty.
By now, Salthill was growing, the population was increasing, and a number of juvenile clubs were set up. Salthill Athletic reformed and Devon Celtic was founded. In 1977 these two clubs amalgamated under the name Salthill Devon. Sheer enthusiasm and a lot of hard work has gone into making this a very fine club that, happily, is still with us today. The club developed a large under-age structure that has involved thousands of youngsters in the game over the years, it has had representatives on the Irish international schools team, the club has won many trophies and for many years organised the hugely popular annual five-a-side competition which was held in Salthill Park.
Finally, a request, would any reasders have any material on the playing of water polo in Galway in the 1930s or 1940s, possibly photographs, news clippings, programmes, or stories? I can be contacted through the Advertiser or at [email protected].
Listen to Tom Kenny and Ronnie O'Gorman elaborating on topics they have covered in this week's paper and much more in this week's Old Galway Diary Podcast.
