On Saturday, Salthill Devon advanced in the SFAI U-11 Menton-Seery Cup after a hard fought extra time victory over Roscommon side Lough Harps. Due to the recent bad weather, the game was switched from Ballinlough to Glenamaddy on Friday night. There was uncertainty whether the game would go ahead as the referee had concerns about the preparation of the pitch but he eventually decided to let the match go ahead about 20 minutes behind schedule. Salthill were without manager Shane Fitzgerald who was unable to attend the game due to personal reasons, however, he, along with coach John ‘Jumbo’ Brennan had the team well prepared. Assistant Manager Donagh Morahan took on the extra responsibility for the afternoon.

The hosts started the match brightly and had more territorial possession without troubling the Devon rearguard too much. However, Salthill’s sluggish play in this period led to a couple of anxious moments in and around the visitor’s penalty area. On the resumption Salthill upped the tempo and started to show the form that got them through an epic encounter with their neighbours Barna in the previous round. Captain Ronan Halloran, playing in the unaccustomed position of centre half due to illness and unavailability of other players, took a more advanced position and along with Adam Fitzgerald began to dominate the crucial middle third of the field. Salthill had a number of half chances as they bore down on the host’s goal only to be denied by heroic last ditch tackles and a few questionable offside decisions. Devon ‘keeper James Hill, however, kept the visitors in the game with a superb one handed safe to deny the hosts midway through the half.

The Salthill onslaught continued into extra time and with four minutes to go the Seasiders deservedly won the game after good build up play from Robert Finnerty and Bronson Kelly gave Adam Murphy a sniff of a chance. The goal scoring machine left three defenders in his tracks and coolly slotted the ball past the advancing ‘keeper for the games outstanding moment.

Salthill, yet again, showed great heart, determination and team spirit to advance and had outstanding performances from Shane Kelly and David Carter at the back, while Halloran and Murphy were the pick of the rest on a day that many of their attacking players were subdued by the home defence.

The Salthill management team would like to thank the parents and supporters who traveled to the game.