A Wet, cold and windy night in the middle of May, the perfect recipe for a banana skin fixture as Salthill Devon played their final away game of the season in Corofin yesterday evening. Joe Gaughan was a late absentee due to illness, Shane Connaughton still recovering from a dead leg and Niall Murray on family duty were the squad members missing for this fixture.

Salthill Devon started the game with a focused energy on their planned high tempo approach. A 4-4-2 formation saw the return of Alex Byrne to the centre of the park accompanied by Conor Shaughnessy who produced his most inspiring performance of the season, Ben Murphy returned to the left flank after missing the last few games through injury and Sean Lally came in on the right wing with Aaron Kane starting at right full, Diarmuid Fadden at left full and the comabative duo of Shane Garvey and Garvhann Malone in centre half ahead of Chris Healy in goal. At the top of the line were the in form striking partnership of Eoghan Stenson and captain for the day, Dillon Murphy.

Indeed, it was Dillon Murphy who opened the scoring in the first 5 minutes after Conor Shaughnessy won possession in the middle of the park and with what proved to be the tale of the game, he picked out the run of Dillon Murphy across the frontline. Eoghan Stenson allowed the ball to run under his body and follow through for Murphy to neatly finish, 1-0 to Devon. It was 2-0 shortly afterwards with an expertly delivered corner kick from that man again, Conor Shaughnessy. Garbhann Malone was on hand at the back stick to head the ball in to score. Malone notched a brace for himself when he struck again from the next set piece, again Shaughnessy delivered in the ball with a neat inswinger with his right juke, the ball was partially cleared but nodded back in by Diarmuid Fadden and there was Garbhann Malone to finish with his right foot, a good finish as he required good technique to slot the ball home. Aaron kane almost made it 4 nil but his attempt went just over the bar. Devon continued to dominate possession with Alex Byrne and Conor Shaughnessy running the game. A flowing move down the right flank involving Sean Lally, Aaron Kane and Dillon Murphy saw the ball played into the feet of Eoghan Stenson who delicately laid the ball off for Conor Shaughnessy who in turn passed it to Ben Murphy who was on hand to slot the ball home to make it 4-0. A welcome return to the goal scoring charts for Ben murphy.

4-0 at the break. The rain continued to fall, it was one of those evenings where the rain continued at the same pace and when clothing and footwear marked as 'waterproof' was really tested. Colin Hanbury replaced Aaron Kane at right full at the start of the 2nd half.

Whilst the scoreline was never in doubt, it was a case of pushing on to try and boost the score differentiation. Corofin played with the elements in the second half and were driving the ball deep into Devon territory in the second half. Two quick substitutions saw Eric Ohlstrom replace Ben Murphy on the left flank and Aaron Murtagh replace Dillon Murphy in attack. Eric Ohlstrom was only on the pitch a matter of minutes when he made it 5-0. A good ball from Diarmuid Fadden saw Ohlstrom turn his man inside out and bring the ball on to his right foot to strike the ball ferociously beyond the reaches of the keeper for Eric's 1st goal of the season. Like the number 46A bus from Eden Quay in Dublin, you wait what feels like a season and all of a sudden two arrive at the same time. Ohlstrom made it 6-0 after good approach play by Shaughnessy and Ohlstrom's shot deflected in off a defender to finish in the net. Sean Lally made it 7-0 after he gambled and a loose ball fell to his feet and his neat finish followed into the net.

The best goal of the evening was the last one of the night, Alex Byrne won possession on the edge of the opponents box and he spotted the keeper slightly off his line and his sublime dink from all of 23 yards landed in the bottom stanction of the net to make it 8-0.

Conor Shaughnessy was man of the match but he faced stiff competition from Alex Byrne, Shane Garvey, Diarmuid Fadden and Garbhann Malone. Aaron Murtagh showed some awesome skill when introduced in what was all in all a good day at the offfice. Devon host Mervue in Drom this Saturday at 11am in what will be the most crucial league fixture of the season, both teams are on equal points with 2 games remaining.

Salthill Devon Squad: Chris Healy, Aaron Kane, Diarmuid Fadden, Shane Garvey, Garbhann Malone, Conor Shaughnessy, Alex Byrne, Sean Lally, Dillon Murphy capt, Eoghan Stenson, Ben Murphy. Subs: Aaron Murtagh, Colin Hanbury and Eric Ohlstrom.