Mannion stunner sends Salthill into Connacht final

Mark Mannion struck a magnificent injury-time two-pointer as Salthill-Knocknacarra dethroned St Brigid’s 0-14 to 1-10 in a gripping Connacht Senior Club Football Championship semi-final at Pearse Stadium. Finian Hanley’s side trailed by eight points in the first half but fought back to book a provincial final against Castlebar Mitchels. Mannion’s long-range winner echoed their dramatic late triumph over Maigh Cuilinn in the Galway final. The holders nearly snatched victory at the death. Goalkeeper Conor Carroll struck the upright from distance before Ruairí Lavelle smothered Paul McGrath’s follow-up. St Brigid’s led 1-7 to 0-2 after 25 minutes, with Conor Hand intercepting a Lavelle restart to score their goal. Matthew Thompson and Rob Finnerty reduced the gap to six points by half-time. Captain Daniel O’Flaherty and teenager Cillian O’Toole brought fresh energy off the bench, while Cathal Sweeney scored twice as the hosts closed in. Finnerty added two more points and John Maher impressed at midfield. Ben O’Carroll’s added-time free put St Brigid’s ahead, but Mannion’s superb strike turned the contest once more before Lavelle’s decisive late intervention.