Salthill-Knocknacarra manager Finian Hanley said he thought their day was over against Maigh Cuilinn in the first half when they failed to score against their opposition for the first 25 minutes of the Galway Senior Football Championship final.

Reigning champions Maigh Cuilinn raced to a 0-04 unanswered lead, despite shooting into a strong breeze.

However, the introduction of Tomo Culhane before the break dramatically changed the complexion of the game. Mark Mannion got them off the mark with a two pointer before Culhane added two of his own.

"I thought we were gone, to be honest. When you're up against a team like that, a juggernaut, it's very hard to get it back in the end but the composure the lads showed and the fitness levels were off the charts. Our boys are never bet unfortunately. They just can't go away," Hanley told RTÉ Sunday Sport.

"I was thinking would we score, that we mightn't win to be honest. We just couldn't get the shots off. Rob (Finnerty) was well curtailed in the first half. Eoghan Kelly did a fabulous job on him. Really frustrated him."

Despite going into half-time with a 0-06 to 0-04 lead, it took Salthill-Knocknacarra until the final seconds of the game to secure a 2-12 to 1-14 victory.

Peter Cooke scored a two-pointer for Maigh Cuilinn in the final minute of stoppage time but Hanley's squad went again and Culhane scored the match-winning goal.

"We know the quality he has. He came on and kicked some brilliant scores," Hanley said of Culhane. "He had an outrageous performance. Probably not one of his better performances last year but boy did he make up for it today.

"We've tried to get a panel here. It's very important in the modern game that you have the players to come in. I just think that the gaps open up a bit more in the new rules and we had Cillian O'Toole there, 17 years of age, completely phenomenal as well. All the lads that came on. Daniel Hoare as well made a difference but that's the way it's been all year.

"That's something we've gone after in the club. We need more players. We have a massive population and sometimes we play with a very small pick."

Hanley added that the victory meant even more because of the difficulties club sides face in maintaining a squad and holding onto players.

"It means a monumental amount. Look, there's a perception of Salthill-Knocknacarra that they've won loads. Three championships in 60 years. Moycullen have three in five," he said.

"We don't win a lot. It's very hard to get guys to commit. We lose five or six every year. But look it means an awful lot. I hope it will spur on the next generation."