Corofin can live with tag of final favourites

Reigning All-Ireland senior club champions Corofin face the stiffest test of their credentials to date when they meet the last team to defeat them in championship football – Castlebar Mitchels of Mayo – in one of the most eagerly anticipated club games of the current campaign on Sunday (2pm).

The Old Lady of Galway football – Tuam Stadium – is sure to be rocking as the top teams from two counties who have been the greatest of rivals over the history of the Association will clash in the Connacht senior club championship final.

For Corofin, it is an opportunity to retain their crown – and, perhaps, gain a measure of revenge for their 2-8 to 1-10 provincial semi-final loss to the same opposition in 2013. That said, boss Stephen Rochford insists he will not be pushing any of these motivating factors as a core theme in his side’s preparations.

“Look, people might talk about revenge or getting one back but that isn’t necessarily how we are looking at it. We are looking at it as a game in its own right and if we are good enough on the day then we will win the game,” began Rochford.

“I suppose we played them in one game and they beat us, so there is a record in the history books about that. This, though, is the 2015 Connacht final and our team has moved on a lot since then (2013). We will have six or seven guys starting the next day who didn’t start against Castlebar three years ago.”

Heading into this one, Rochford has no fresh injury concerns after experienced defender Alan Burke recovered from a knock he picked up in their emphatic Connacht semi-final victory over St Mary’s of Sligo last day out.

“We should be okay. Alan Burke went off in the semi-final with a slight bang but he should be fine. He trained this week. Patrick Madden, Kevin Murphy and Aineis Lawless though are all out for this weekend. They were all out the last day as well,” outlined the Corofin manager.

As a Mayo native he is very familiar with the club scene in his own county . . . including what Castlebar Mitchels bring to the table. “I have seen a few [Mayo club games] but I have only seen Castlebar on one occasion. That was in their quarter-final against Aghamore (5-13 v 1-7) and they were hugely impressive that day.

“They put up a big tally and they have scored something in the region of 14 goals in their last four games. That is a huge part of any game and if you are scoring three or four goals towards the tail end of November you are going to be very difficult to beat.”

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.