Corofin on course for third Co. U-21 A title on the trot

Date Published: 25-Apr-2012

Corofin 2-9

Caltra 0-6

Alan Dooley at Tuam Stadium

ST. James’ stand between Corofin and a magnificent three-in-a-row at the U21A football grade after the champions retained the Supervalu North Board title with relative ease at Tuam Stadium, seeing off the gallant challenge of a young Caltra side on Saturday evening.

The nine-point margin at the finish was harsh on a Caltra side who played an attractive brand of football but were unable to match Corofin physically in the key positions, while the victors showed flashes of genuine class in attack but are left with room for improvement ahead of the county final.

For Caltra, who are laying solid foundations for the future of their club given that the majority of this panel were involved in capturing the county U21 B title only last year, they will look back on an opening half that began promisingly but petered out as the scores that were needed with the wind at their backs to give them a lead to protect never materialised.

Instead Corofin, for whom five of their six starting forwards registered scores, notched 1-6 of their total in the quarters before and after the break to give them a healthy cushion that, while never under too much threat, needed a spectacular save from goalkeeper Thomas Healy to quell any notions of a Caltra comeback.

An early Corofin onslaught looked on the cards, and uneasy memories of last year’s rout of Claregalway at the same stage of the competition returned, as they quickly got within shooting range following some slick passing and forceful running. Full forward Ian Burke kicked a routine free to open the game’s scoring before the minute mark had elapsed, but Caltra were soon showing that they were determined to make their mark.

Three minutes later midfielder Padraig Mannion played a short free to Luke Cosgrove and took the return pass before driving over a superb point with the outside of his boot from 40 yards out. With Kealen Beckett showing well at full forward for Caltra, they were on the front foot for the next ten minutes, but didn’t add the scores their play deserved.

Beckett could have had a goal on seven minutes when he turned Conor Keady in the left corner and darted goalwards, but the target man lost control at the vital moment and Healy darted out to smother his low shot. Already Corofin had demonstrated their high fielding ability at midfield in the shape of Alan Molloy and Daithí Burke, but they were still finding the dogged Caltra defence tough to crack.

Good pressure by the Caltra forwards led to their second score when Conor Nolan kicked a splendid free from the right corner with his left foot, but quick as a flash Corofin had levelled when Oisín Mannion guided over a left footed effort, and within 60 seconds Adrian Molloy set up Ian Burke for another point.

Patient build-up play got Caltra back on level terms on 19 minutes when half back Stephen Nolan joined in the attack and dissected the uprights. Corofin, though, were beginning to find their rhythm and, while Caltra remained tenacious in the tackle and poised on the ball, wave upon wave of attacks now poured forward toward the Town goal.

Daithí Burke and Adrian Molloy combined well before Ian Burke slotted over a free to make it 0-4 to 0-3 in Corofin’s favour, and just before the interval Seán Silke clinically struck for a critical goal when released by Mannion’s perceptive handpass. More good play from the hard working Adrian Molloy set up Silke for another point and despite eight minutes of added time, Corofin retreated to the dressing rooms with a five point cushion.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.