Sports
Corofin cruise to another senior football title
COROFIN 5-12
ST. MICHAEL’S 0-9
IN the end, it was a completion of the inevitable as Corofin put back-to-back senior titles on the board with the minimum of fuss at Tuam Stadium on Sunday despite the honest toil of a St. Michael’s side competing in their first ever final.
The fate of St. Michael’s was no different from that of other ‘big name’ North Galway clubs such as Mountbellew, Tuam Stars and Milltown, with Corofin quite simply playing the game at a different level to all other clubs in the county.
Maybe St. Michael’s might have been a tad naive to take on Corofin in a straightforward man-to-man encounter early on when a packed defence could have put up a stronger resistance, but really this would only, have at best, delayed the inevitable – the chasm was always too big to be crossed by any rope bridge.
Corofin in their current guise are just playing the game at a different pace to all other clubs in the county. The passes are quick and accurate; the maze of off-the-ball runs presents a range of options to the player in possession, while they are also quite forceful in their close encounter contests for 50/50 possession.
As might be expected from St. Michael’s their final effort was not short of all the wholesome qualities of honesty, endeavour and spirit but it’s very hard to ‘get stuck in’ against a side like Corofin that mind the ball so well and then move it rapidly before the tackle can be made.
St. Michael’s manager, John Kenny, had probably hoped for a decent enough start to this match and when Eddie Hoare fired over the opening point from a free in the 2nd minute, St. Michael’s – just for a moment or two – might have dared to dream of a glory day.
Less than 15 minutes later though the contest was all over in an execution carried out quietly and efficiently as Corofin tore apart the St. Michael’s defence, powering their way into a 2-7 to 0-1 lead with a selection of quality scores.
The early goals were delivered by Michael Lundy in the 5th minute and by Michael Farragher seven minutes later, both coming at the end of slithery Corofin attacks and wrapped up in a series of classy points delivered by Gary Sice, Alan Burke, Liam Silke, Michael Farragher, Joe Canney and Ronan Steede.
Lundy’s first goal in its own way was a portent of things to come for St. Michael’s. The losers were in clean possession of the ball near the left sideline but decided to get involved ‘close up and personal’ with Corofin – the ball was turned over and seconds later it was buried in the back of the St. Michael’s net.
Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GALWAY United need to guard against any kind of complacency when they make the short hop down the M18 this Friday to take on Treaty United at the Markets Field (7.45pm).
The game is a meeting of the two form teams in the division, and as in previous meetings between the sides, will have an additional edge given the number of former United players in the home side’s ranks, and the pair of Limerick lads playing for United.
There might have been just the eight meetings between the sides since Treaty became the latest iteration to represent Limerick in the League of Ireland in 2021, and while United have yet to lose to the men in the candy-cane strips, there has never been more than a goal in four of their eight wins.
The most recent of those was back in February, when Rob Slevin scored the only goal of the game in Eamonn Deacy Park after a tough battle against a side who made a slow start to the season, before finally finding their groove in the past month.
Having taken just three points from their first six games before finally getting a win against Longford Town, they reverted to type with just one point from their next three games, but are now on a run of four wins on the spin, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one.
Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory away to Longford Town last Saturday, and they could have won by double that against the only side to have beaten United this season. That in itself is a warning.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
While the Salthill Devon men’s team might have lost their grip on the Connacht Junior Cup that they held for two seasons, the club’s women’s side have picked up the mantle and on Sunday last in Headford were crowned provincial champions with a 4-3 win over Manulla.
Following midweek wins for Maree/Oranmore and Knocknacarra, the stage is now almost set for the semi-finals of the Michael Byrne Cup with Salthill Devon meeting St Bernard’s on Sunday in an outstanding quarter-final, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Maree/Oranmore, while Colga will face Knocknacarra in the other last four contest.
Just one league issue remains to be decided, with the Championship runners-up position up for grabs, as Dynamo Blues have to win their two remaining games in order to overtake Colemanstown United who have finished their programme.
WOMEN’S CONNACHT CUP FINAL
Salthill Devon 4
Manulla 3
Ellerose O’Flaherty scored twice as Salthill Devon were crowned provincial champions with a win over a Mayo side who were losing in the final for the second year in succession.
Backboned by a number of players who previously had League of Ireland experience with Galway WFC, Devon suffered an early set back when Jess Nolan put Manulla ahead, before O’Flaherty levelled matters with a cracking finish on 20 minutes, which was quickly followed by a long-range free-kick from Aoife Walsh.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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