Tuam Stars will face neighbours Corofin in next Sunday's Galway SFC final after they edged out Salthill/Knocknacarra 1-8 to 0-9 in yesterday's semi-final replay at Tuam Stadium.

The sleeping giants of Galway football, who haven't won a senior championship since 1984, never looked back after Declan Beirne's goal helped them to a 1-4 to 0-4 interval lead, despite having played against the wind in the opening half.

2006 All-Ireland club champions Salthill/Knockncarra rallied in the second-half, but the loss of midfielder Stephen O'Reilly proved a fatal blow to their chances. Two Conor Holloran points had brought the city side back into the game after the restart before the Stars hit back with scores from Declan Beirne, Conor Doherty, Jamie Murphy and Gary O'Donnell to lead by 1-8 to 0-6 heading into the final quarter.

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 Beirne (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 Beirne.

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. Tweet

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