Sport

Byrne a star among Stars as Tuam book their place in Galway decider

GALWAY SFC SEMI-FINAL REPLAY Tuam Stars 1-8 Salthill/Knocknacarra 0-9: DECLAN BYRNE blasted home the decisive score as Tuam …

Mon Oct 24 2011 - 01:00

GALWAY SFC SEMI-FINAL REPLAY Tuam Stars 1-8 Salthill/Knocknacarra 0-9:DECLAN BYRNE blasted home the decisive score as Tuam Stars booked a county final place against neighbours Corofin at Tuam Stadium yesterday.

Byrne latched on to a poor clearance to fire home the only goal of the game, which left Tuam, the most prolific winners of the Galway SFC but without a win since 1984, 1-4 to 0-4 ahead at half-time, having played against the wind.

Salthill/Knockncarra rallied in the second-half but lost midfielder Stephen O’Reilly to a second yellow card.

Tuam Stars, who are managed by new Galway football selector Alan Glynn, will now have to face into next weekend’s final on the back of five games in five weeks after draws in both their quarter-final and semi-final.

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A brace of Conor Holloran points brought Salthill/Knocknacarra right back into the game after half-time, but the Stars regained control and Byrne, Conor Doherty, Jamie Murphy and Gary O’Donnell pushed Tuam Stars into a 1-8 to 0-6 lead at the three-quarter stage.

The game began to get ragged, with a couple of minor melees which saw Salthill/Knocknacarra’s O’Reilly sent off after he picked up his second yellow, but after that the game settled down as Salthill/Knocknacarra came right back into contention after county hurler Aongus Callanan kicked over two wonderful long range points against the breeze.

However the Stars’ half-back line began to take control again, closing off the Salthill/Knocknacarra attack and a late Crowe pointed free just wasn’t enough for Salthill/Knocknacarra.

TUAM STARS: J Trayers; D O'Rourke, I McGough, D Connern; N Henry (0-1), T Costello, A Tierney; B Devaney, J Lawless (0-1); D Byrne (1-1), J Murphy (0-2), G O'Donnell (0-1); S Gaffney, C Doherty (0-2), S Curtin. Subs: E Kilroy for O'Rourke, D Marley for Curtin, D Kelly for Gaffney, D Murray for Byrne.

SALTHILL/KNOCKNACARRA: G Rogers; C Begley, F Hanley, D O'Flaherty; P Fahy, R McTiernan, C Holloran (0-2); S O'Reilly, J Boylan; S Gavin, A Callanan (0-2), T Burke; G O'Leighinn, S Crowe (0-4, frees), S Armstrong (0-1). Subs: G Armstrong for O'Leighinn, G Canavan for Gavin.

Referee: M Mac Gearlaith.