Corofin are taking nothing for granted in away test against Sligo champions

COROFIN boss Stephen Rochford admits his side are “on alert” as the reigning All-Ireland champions make the potentially difficult journey to take on Sligo outfit St. Mary’s in the Connacht senior club semi-final at Markievicz Park on Sunday (2pm).

Although coming off the back of a facile 1-17 to 0-7 Connacht quarter-final victory over Mohill of Leitrim at Tuam Stadium recently, Corofin are slightly under the cosh with injuries at the moment.

In addition, with a number of high profile casualties in club action across the country last weekend – most notably All-Ireland finalists Slaughtneil and Leinster champions St. Vincent’s – Rochford has every right to be wary, particularly in this fixture away from home.

“We are certainly on alert. The away game provides us with that additional bit of focus though. Look it, we had to go on the road twice last year in the Connacht championship so lads are accustomed to what that means and again no matter where you go this time of the year every game provides its own test.

“I didn’t get to witness any of those games (last weekend) so I don’t know the finer details of the games, but if you are not 100% on the money against some of these opposition teams you run the risk of being out of the championship the following Monday morning,” he says.

Although somewhat under-strength against Mohill last day out, Rochford is hoping some of his side’s influential players will return from injury for this semi-final clash. “We still have a couple of injuries – and bumps and bruises – but we won’t really know until nearer the weekend who is in or out,” he notes.

“Gary Sice, Dylan Wall, Daithí Burke and Greg Higgins are all in contention to play all or some part of the game at the weekend. They would be the main people. Kevin Murphy, who would have started the county semi-final, has a groin injury while Aienis Lawless is out with a knee injury.”

Despite the loss of Sice, Wall, Burke and Higgins against Mohill, the champions still proved to be clinically efficient in taking their scores. No more so than Michael Farragher (1-2), Michael Lundy (0-4), Jason Leonard (0-4 frees) and Ian Burke (0-3).

In the end, 13 points separated the two but despite the gulf in class Rochford believes it was still a good test for his side. “The point was they were Leitrim champions and they were going to provide a test for us.

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