An impressive and well coached St James u-21 outfit was too strong for Salthill-Knocknacarra on Sunday in Pearse Stadium in the West Board County u-21 A final.
Terry O’Regan’s charges had too much power and guile for their city rivals and advanced to a county final against Corofin on a 0-12 to 0-7 score-line.
At half time Salthill-Knocknacarra were down by only two points, having played into the teeth of a gusting breeze, but the “Jimmies” really upped the work rate and tore into the game in the second period and fully merited their victory.
A 19-minute barren spell without a score either side of the small whistle left Salthill’s chances of success in dire straits, and the absence of Gearoid Armstrong with a knee injury left them short of a focal point for their full-forward line.
Only Tadhg Haran posed any real attacking threat for Salthill and they struggled to make an impact up front.
St James had good performances from goalkeeper David Heffernan, and defenders Cathal Walsh, Andrew Burke and Shane Coughlan. At midfield Aaron Connolly and county senior player Johnny Duane were key performers in the victory and up front Eoghan O'Regan, Mike Elwood, Ronan O'Connell and Owen Teagle were lively.
Salthill tried hard, but on this occasion they were well beaten by a better and more balanced side.
Conor Halloran, Greg Sheedy, Gearoid Canavan, Evan Wynne, Cian McGinn, Tadhg Haran, and Seanie Hughes all worked hard for the cause.
St James: D Heffernan; O O'Malley, C Walsh, M Fahy; S Coughlan, A Burke, A Lee; A Connolly, J Duane (0-1 ); L Vahey, M Elwood (0-2 ), S Glynn; E O'Regan (0-5, 4fs ), R O'Connell (0-2 ), O Teagle (0-2 ). Subs: P Ryan for O'Malley, C O'Regan for Glynn.
Salthill-Knocknacarra: G Sheedy; J Killeen, G Canavan, E Wynne; C McGinn, C Halloran, E Gavin; R Butler, M Heskin; S O'Leidhinn, A Butler, E Duffy (0-1 ); T Haran (0-2 ), S Hughes (0-2, 1f ), B Conlon (0-2, 1f ). Subs: R Conlon for Duffy, B Seagrave for O' Leidhinn.
