Gutsy Sallins crowned provincial champions after turning Leinster final their way
Sallins celebrate after being crowned Leinster champions Photo: Aisling Hyland
Roaring hot favourites Sallins survived a huge scare before clinching a third successive AIB Leinster Intermediate Club Football Championship for Kildare clubs with a seven-point win over Tubberclair at Cedral St Conleth’s Park.
They won despite a heroic effort from the Westmeath side, seeking a first title at this level for the Lake County, but who fell short in the final ten minutes after two third quarter goals had put Sallins on the back foot.
It was the toughest, most physical battle Sallins have faced all year, and they were not at their best for long spells against a robust Tubberclair side in front of a sizeable crowd in Newbridge.
Not only did Sallins have to cope with Colm Dalton clearly being hampered by a hamstring injury, they conceded the softest of goals due to a goalkeeping error to allow Tubberclair get a foothold in the match, having led by six at the interval.
That goal from Daire O’Connor and a second from county star Matthew Whittaker helped Tubberclair draw level at 2-3 to 0-9 heading into the final ten minutes, but Sallins dug deep and two goals from Cian Grimes and James Dalton clinched the title.
Sallins, playing with the slight advantage from a strong crosswind into the town end, registered three two-pointers in the opening quarter, two from Grimes, one a free, sandwiching one from Emmet Ralph. They were wasteful too, though, in their rush to press home their advantage, with Grimes shooting three wides.
Despite plenty of possession, particularly in the second quarter, Tubberclair could not add to Whittaker’s 13th minute point from play and neither side scored in that quarter until Grimes’ free from just inside the arc sent the Kildare champions into the interval 0-7 to 0-1 ahead.
They had lost county star Colm Dalton by then. With a heavily strapped hamstring, the forward was clearly struggling before being replaced six minutes from the break.
Dalton wasn’t long reappearing though, nine minutes after the interval, having had a spell on the exercise bike in the dressing room. Sallins were under pressure by that stage, Tubberclair having started the second half with O’Connor’s goal, volleyed home after goalkeeper Matthew Farrelly had gathered but failed to hold onto Paul Keegan’s effort.
Whittaker’s close-range finish on 43 minutes after a defence-splitting one-two with Keelan Connell, drew Tubberclair within a point and Keegan’s fisted point levelled things with the game at its competitive peak, no quarter asked or given.
Credit to Sallins who showed the maturity to re-assert themselves, with midfielder Daragh Mangan and county panellist Luke Killian leading the charge.
Grimes was another to take on a leadership role with the younger Dalton hampered, and it was he who combined with James Dalton and Seán Conway to fist Sallins’ first goal. Glen McEvoy followed up with a fisted point and Grimes with a free and in the final minute of normal time James Dalton palmed home Stephen Kelly’s cross to secure the title.
Sallins will now meet An Ghaeltacht from Kerry, the Munster champions, on the first weekend after Christmas in Páirc Uí Chaoimh, as they seek to become the first Kildare club to reach an All-Ireland final at the grade.
Matthew Farrelly; Ruairí Ó Domhnaill, Mark Moynihan, Seán Ó Domhnaill; Luke Kelly, Eoin McConnon, Glen McEvoy 0-1; Daragh Mangan, Paul Farrelly; Cian Grimes 1-7 (1tp,1tpf,3fs), Colm Dalton, Luke Killian; Stephen Kelly 0-1 (f), Emmet Ralph 0-2 (tp), James Dalton 1-0. Subs: Alan Marshall for C Dalton 24, Seán Conway for P Farrelly 37, Colm Dalton for Ralph 39, Darren Keane for McConnon 44, Aaron Carney for Moynihan 60.
Kevin Fagan; Stephen McGonagle, Cathal Tighe, Liam Staunton; Taylor Slevin, Tom Kelleher, Matthew Whittaker 1-2; Seán Claffey, Eoghan McCabe 0-1; Paul Keegan 0-1, Fred Kelleher, Tom Bourke; Kealan Connell, Daire O’Connor 1-0, Gavin Delaney. Subs: Kyle Fagan for Staunton 52, Oisin O’Meara for Slevin 55, Finn Duffy for Bourke 55, Paul Garvey for Tighe 58.
Stephen Fagan (Wicklow).
