THIS TIME FIVE years ago and St Michael’s were embarking upon an Intermediate championship campaign which would bring them to the All-Ireland final in Croke Park.
Although they would lose that final to namesakes St Michael’s from Kerry, their steady progression has continued and as of today they can now look forward to a first ever county senior championship final.
Neither St Michael’s or today’s opposition Barna had ever reached a county senior final before, but thanks to a fantastic team effort today it was the Westside city team who progressed on the second time of asking.
In last weekend’s drawn semi-final between the pair, Galway attacker Eddie Hoare slotted over four scores and it was the same man who put his side’s first score on the board this afternoon.
St Michael’s maintained a point advantage for much of the first half, in what was a low scoring encounter – leading at half time by 0-4 to 0-3.
Having scored half of his team’s total in the first half, Hoare continued to find his range in the second as his team quickly built a 0-6 to 0-3 lead.
From here the fizzle began to leave this encounter and despite some occasional flurrys by Barna a five point gap was quickly established.
Yet within the final seven minutes of normal times, and the four additional minutes added thereafter, it was all Barna. Unfortunately though the Connemara side could only muster two points for their efforts and so it’s St Michael’s who progress.
Meanwhile in Sligo Tubbercurry won their 20th ever title but their first since 1991 with a thrilling victory over St Mary’s.
Three crucial half goals, the first and last from Cian Killoran, proved the difference as David Kelly’s team progress into the Connacht championship.
Galway SFC semi-final replay
St Michaels 0-9 Barna 0-7
Sligo SFC final
St Marys 0-12 Tubbercurry 3-12
