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.