Champions Corofin are chasing a fourth county title on trot

AFTER completing the three-in-a-row for the first time in their history when winning their 17th senior title last year – and so joining Ballinasloe in joint second in the SFC Roll of Honour – Corofin’s next objective will be to close the gap on Tuam Stars at the top of the leaderboard.

The man charged with spearheading Corofin’s county title challenge this year is Kevin O’Brien and he takes over the role from Mayo senior football manager Stephen Rochford, who had guided the Galway champions to All-Ireland club glory in Spring of last year.

Indeed, there has been huge turnover of senior managers in the 20 clubs competing in the first round of the Frank Fox Cup, with only Gabriel Naughton (Caltra), Paul Bradley (Cortoon Shamrocks), Padraig Corbett (Killanin), Alan Flynn (Tuam Stars), Val Daly (Salthill/Knocknacarra) and James Foran (Mountbellew/Moylough) returning to the helm of their senior teams once again.

That said, the likes of Matt Lawless (Barna) and John Ruane (St. Michael’s) have made the step up from assistant roles in 2015 and that should also offer those sides some stability going forward in this campaign.

SATURDAY

Barna v St. Michael’s

(Moycullen, 3:30pm)

Galway forward Eddie Hoare captains a St. Michael’s outfit that have lost the Grogan brothers – Barry and Neil – along with Brian Madden and Damien Connaughton to emigration. John Ruane, who coached the side last year, is now team manager with Pat Madden, Joe Corcoran and Noel Connaughton his selectors. Other than that, Ruane reports a clean bill of health.

As for Barna, their squad has been decimated with emigration and retirements over the last couple of years but manager Matt Lawless – promoted from the assistant position – remains very enthusiastic about his young team, which is captained by James Keane.

DD Flaherty is among those who have retired from the senior grade. Paddy Naughton (United States) and Ronan Geraghty and Stevie Delaney (Australia) have flown the coup while Donal Feeney and Kieran Hanly have transferred to Caherlistrane and St. Olaf (Dublin) respectively. Colm Cleary, Conor Bradly and player Eoin Curran complete Lawless’ backroom set-up.

Verdict: St. Michael’s.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.