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Corofin 1-17

Mohill 0-7

Kevin O’Dwyer at Tuam Stadium

WHILE they did not inflict the same annihilation on the Leitrim champions as they did last year, Corofin simply cruised to victory on Sunday with a facile victory over Mohill in the Connacht Club semi-final at Tuam Stadium.

Last year there was a difference of 35 points between them and Aughawillan and, on this occasion, they were again not threatened to any degree. Corofin did not have to break sweat to achieve victory.

The home side had to line out without Daithi Burke, Gary Sice and Dylan Wall, who were all injured, but this did not diminish their chances as they have a wealth of young talent to draw on.

It gave the management an opportunity to give a starting run to Shane Monaghan, Ian Burke and Conor Cunningham.  Manager Stephen Rochford said that it was important to be able to try out different players and different formations as “guys lose form, you can have injuries, suspensions and then some lads come in and set down a marker.”

Corofin captain Michael Farragher won the toss but opted to play against a strong breeze that was blowing into the town goal in the first half. Straight from the throw in, Micheál Lundy scored the first point within 15 seconds. Mohill soon settled into putting 13 men behind the ball, but the Galway champions were soon three points to no score ahead and only six minutes gone on the clock.

Michael Farragher kicked a massive curling point from out on the left and Lundy’s second score laid down a very early marker on his claim for man of the match honours, which he duly secured.

Rangy Mohill midfielder Domhnall Flynn put over their first score in the eighth minute but Ian Burke, who was already tormenting the blanket defence, fired over two points from tight positions to stretch Corofin four points clear by the end of the first quarter.

Mohill’s tactic was to try and hit Corofin on the counter attack but they did not commit enough players to move forward when they had the opportunity and opted to hit long balls from the midfield area. These were easily dealt with by a Corofin side that had extra men in defence with an unmarked Ciaran McGrath providing excellent cover in front of the full-back line of Kieran Fitzgerald, Padraic Kelly and Cathal Silke.

However, Mohill’s most dangerous forward, Ronan Kennedy completed an excellent counter-attacking move midway through the half when he scored their second point and narrowed the gap to three points. That was to be Mohill’s last score of the half and Corofin went on to add five unanswered points putting them 0-10 to 0-2 clear at the break. These scores came from Conor Cunningham, Jason Leonard, Micheál Lundy (2) and Ian Burke. It was a very comfortable lead.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.