Salthill Devon returned to the top of the Colie Smyth U-14 league with an inspired second half in which they scored 3 times without reply. Goals on the day were scored by Aaron Murtagh, Dillon Murphy and Eoghan Stenson (2).

Prior to this league tie, a burgeoning injury crisis was looming with text after text reducing the Devon Squad size due to injury and unavailability. Devon's squad for this game included 5 of Padraig Kenny's U-13's all of whom are part of the upcoming Kennedy Cup Squad.

From afar it appeared that Devon were in the right frame of mind as the game kicked off. However goalie Chris Healy's first function was to pick the ball out of the net as Devon went 1-0 down in the opening minute. A throw in midway inside the Devon half allowed the striker to break clear as his cross come shot aided by the wind factor but more so down to sloppy defending looped up in the air and carried itself into the goals.

Harsh words were dished out and now Devon had to raise their game as they knew the 2nd half would be difficult as Cregmore/Claregalway would have the wind at their backs and with the excellent delivery from the Cregmore/Calregalway keeper from the deadball and his hands it would be a difficult second half.

Devon did get the ball down but the physical battles in the middle of the park were being met head on. Niall Murray and Shane Garvey needed to step it up. A neat passing movement from Devon in which Shane Garvey, Dillon Murphy and an assist from Captain for the day Eoghan Stenson released Aaron Murtagh and a quality striker from him levelled the game. It was a quality strike and needed to be to beat the opposition keeper.

Level at the break, Devon made a tactical change, Joe Gaughan just returned from France was introduced and this led to numerous positional changes and Aaron Murtagh made way not through any fault in his performance but just to alter things tactically.

Joe Gaughan decided that because he was away for the Connaught Cup final last week, he was going to show his team mates what they were missing. He went about upping the pace of the game, and he was involved in Devon's second goal which was a sublime finish from Eoghaqn Stenson.

Devon made it 3-1 shortly afterwards in their best passing movement of the game and in which they kept possession of the ball for 15 passes as the ball eventually was sent wide right and Sean Lally precision cross was neatly volleyed to the net by Dillon Murphy. Colm Hughes replaced Shane Connaughton who was consistently on the end of some heavy tackling.

Diarmuid Fadden swung in a free kick from just inside his own half and Eoghan Stenson anticipated that it would rebound off his marker and as the ball returned to him, he took a touch and struck the ball with venom as it went in above the head of the keeper, a great strike and a great goal.

Eric Ohlstrom replaced Niall Murray immediately after and got involved in the game.

Salthill Devon suffered more injuries in this game and the injury list is now at 5 players. Corofin away next Wednesday evening as 3 league games remain.