City clubs swing into action but Corofin look unstoppable

CAN anyone beat Corofin? A new championship structure may be coming into effect in Galway senior football this weekend, but the question on everyone’s lips seems to be the same as in any other year as 20 of the 21 senior clubs swing into action over the next three days.

Corofin are seeking their sixth county title in eight years and, given that they also won the county U-21 title last year, there is no sign of the juggernaut coming to a halt despite the recent retirements of Kieran Comer and Damien Burke, two of their longest-serving players.

Bookmaker John Mulholland took a hefty bet on the county champions to retain their Galway crown last week, reviving the odds from 11/10 to 4/5. It’s not often the championship favourites are odds-on to win the competition outright before a ball has even been thrown in.

So emphatic was their victory over Salthill-Knocknacarra in last year’s county final at Tuam Stadium that it left many observers praying that a new force, perhaps Cortoon Shamrocks, Milltown, or Tuam, could emerge as genuine contenders in 2014. To give an idea of how far the champions are perceived to be ahead of the chasing pack, second favourites Milltown are available for 6/1.

Tweaks to the structure will ensure that the ten losers this weekend will play off in five matches to see who can reach the third round, while the ten winners will also face each other in five games – the losing five will also emerge into the third round. NUI Galway will enter the competition in the preliminary quarter-finals (round four), along with the five third round winners – with the teams who win their first two championship games going straight through to the quarter-finals.

Full preview in  this week’s Galway City Tribune.