Milltown men complete league hat-trick

Milltown 1-11

Corofin 2-6

MILLTOWN captured their third county senior football title in a row at Tuam Stadium on Sunday with a  deserved but hard fought victory over county champions Corofin. The winners started in whirlwind fashion and were 1-5 to 0-0 ahead after just 12 minutes.

Their goal came in the second minute when Mark Hehir put Cathal Blake through and he fired into the Corofin net. With James Kavanagh dominating at centre forward, they followed up with points from Michael Martin (2), Mark Hehir (free) and another fine effort from play by Kavanagh. Martin had opened the scoring with a pointed free and this meant that Milltown were cruising and Corofin were in real trouble.

But they settled and their main forward in the county final, Gary Sice, raised Corofin’s hopes with a fine goal. Ronan Steede provided the opportunity and Sice finished low into the Milltown net. Milltown hit back with two points, another long range score from a Mark Hehir free and a well taken point from play by Johnny Hynes.

It was essential that Milltown maintained a strong lead as they had the advantage of a stiff breeze blowing into the town goal in that first half, but it was Corofin whof inished the half with style. Alan O’Donovan pointed two frees before Sice returned the favour for Steede and he blasted to the net in additional time to leave his side just three points adrift at the interval.

Just before that Milltown’s full back, Darren Mullahy, showed his determination and leadership qualities when he followed a move up field to fist over and so Milltown went in at half time ahead by 1-8 to 2-2.

The second half was a scrappier affair and referee Martin Flaherty was busy flashing yellow cards. Milltown picked up five while Corofin received three during the course of the game. Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.