Corofin camp on their guard for trip to London to face Tir Chonaill Gaels

‘IT’S no junket’ – that’s the clear message spelt out by Corofin manager Stephen Rochford as his Galway and Connacht champions face up to London standard bearers, Tir Chonaill Gaels, at Ruislip on Sunday (1pm), in the quarter-finals of the club series.

Corofin fly out from Knock on Saturday afternoon and return to Shannon on Sunday night. With exam commitments also coming into play for some squad members, it is very much a case of a ‘mind on the match’ scenario for Rochford’s side.

“This is no weekend away for the lads. We’ve a job of work to do and it’s a game that brings its own concerns for us as they’re a team that we haven’t seen in the flesh this year.

“Over recent years, the club scene has really strengthened in London with the emigration factor coming into play, and Tir Chonaill Gaels have delivered some very creditable performances in the club series over recent years,” said Rochford.

Back in January of 2009, Corofin defeated the same opposition at Ruislip on a 2-7 to 0-6 scoreline after firing home a couple of early goals and this year Tir Chonaill Gaels came through a competitive London championship, defeating Fulham Irish in the final on a 1-12 to 1-9 scoreline.

Mark Gottsche, now the guiding light of GAA development across London, was man-of-the-match in that final and his former Oranmore team-mate, John McGrath, is also in the Gaels panel for Sunday along with the O’Neill brothers from Renvyle, Cathal and Eoin.

Stephen McLoughlin, Secretary of the Tir Chonaill Gaels club – whose foundation dates back to 1962 – said that this was a huge match for the team, managed by former Leitrim manager Barney Breen, and they were determined to put in a big display.

“We know that Corofin are one of the big clubs in Gaelic football and are favoured by many to go all the way but our lads want to be tested against a really good side, and this is their opportunity to show what they can do,” said McLoughlin.

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