Corofin all keyed up for Croker return

If you want something done, ask a busy man – or woman – and that old adage would certainly appear to be the case with Corofin GAA club chairman, Michael Ryder.

As the Galway and Connacht champions prepare for a third All-Ireland club final appearance – they face Nemo Rangers at Croke Park this Saturday – Ryder has been working hard in organising the logistics of their St. Patrick’s Day sojourn, along with fundraising money for the team training fund and dealing with the appeal to have Martin Farragher’s sending off in the semi-final quashed.

The latter has already involved a trip to Croke Park this month by Ryder and Secretary Jimmy McHugh but the journey was worth it as common sense prevailed and full-forward Farragher’s red card was subsequently rescinded.

Ryder, in his sixth year as Chairman, tends to take all these things in his stride and this, most likely, comes from his involvement over the past three decades. “I suppose, I am privileged,” he begins. “This is my third time to be involved (when the club reached the All-Ireland final).

“In ’98, James Collins was Chairman and Pat Rabbitte was the Secretary and I was the Treasurer. In 2015, I was chairman and now again this year I am Chairman. So, I am just privileged to have been involved in the three finals. It is a great occasion to be involved.”

He highlights, though, a lot of what they look to achieve off the field could not be done without “a great team” around him. He pays tribute to Secretary McHugh and Treasurer John Raftery along with “a fantastic executive”.

“We have met every night since we won (the All-Ireland semi-final) in Tullamore and there is nothing but meetings to make sure everything is ready. We are leaving no stone unturned to make sure the team gets the best they deserve for Paddy’s Day.”

To this end, they organised a ‘Night at the Dogs’ last weekend which, reportedly, pulled in big money and, in many respects, it had to after the club was forced to make two trips to London for their All-Ireland quarter-final. The original fixture in December was called off two hours before throw-in due to snow.

See full story – and preview – in this week’s Connacht Tribune.