It’s hard to look beyond Corofin

Date Published: 02-Oct-2008

INTRIGUE, passion, pride – and just a little hint of romance too – all form part of the build-up package to this year’s county senior football final at Pearse Stadium on Sunday (3.30) between Corofin and Cortoon Shamrocks.

The Claregalway Hotel senior football championship of 2008 has given fair value for money but all of the fairytales have centred on the achievements of Cortoon, whose path to a first ever final has been memorable.

There has been nothing ethereal though about Cortoon’s progression through the ranks this year with the scalps of Annaghdown, Killererin, Salthill and NUI Galway under their belts . . . now only one barrier remains to be overcome for the most incredible piece of local sporting history to be written.

That obstacle though is the most formidable they could pick for the final fence. Corofin, have by a country mile, been the top club in Galway since their breakthrough year of 1991, with eight titles secured over the past 17 years.

Objectively, Corofin are probably the one team that a club seeking a first title would not want to meet, but finals are once-off occasions with their own tale to tell and Cortoon, with the underdogs tag firmly pinned to their backs, will look forward to Sunday with a mix of abandon and enthusiasm.

Corofin will be acutely aware of the difficulties that such a challenge will pose. Many neutrals have already pencilled in Corofin as county champions but Jimmy Sice’s side will be on ‘red alert’ against any complacency setting in and they have …..