Sports
Switch of Comer to the attack helps reel in Corofin
Corofin 0-15
Annaghdown 3-6
FOLLOWING a terrific run this year of 16 victories this year in the league and championship, Corofin were held to a draw by Annaghdown in last Sunday’s county senior league final in Headford.
It was a cracking winter’s afternoon, with calm conditions in benign sunshine and both sides served up some wonderful fare. Corofin had to convert a late ‘45’ to bring the game to extra-time and, in turn, Annagdown, three points behind at the end of the second period of extra-time, had to find the net with their last kick to earn a replay.
Corofin started with 12 of the team that had gained victory in the Connacht club final while Annaghdown were also without some key players because of fitness difficulties. Corofin dominated the early possession and Annaghdown had to employ a blanket defence to keep the scoring to a minimum.
Ian and Daithi Burke both pointed from play in the first ten minutes, while Annaghdown had to wait until the 14th minute for their first score, a pointed free from Frankie Burke. Corofin were patient in their build up and were rewarded with two Gary Sice points and an effort from Alan O’Donovan to lead by 0-5 to 0-1.
Both sides were guilty of some wayward shooting in that first half with Corofin hitting eight wides to Annaghdown’s five. Then just before the half-time whistle Frankie Burke converted his second free of the half to leave it Corofin 0-5, Annagdown 0-2 at the break.
Brendan Dooley boosted Annaghdown when he got their first point from play in the 34th minute. However, Corofin soon restored their dominance and converted three points without reply. Gary Sice was again their main scorer getting two of them, one from a free, while Ian Burke also pointed to stretch their lead to 0-8 to 0-3 after 48 minutes.
Annaghdown played Damien Comer at midfield as they were without Niall Coleman, but as the game seemed to be going away from them they moved Comer into the full-forward line. This proved to be a master stroke as the Corofin defence struggled to deal with his power.
Then in the 49th minute the Corofin defence failed to clear a cross from the right and Comer gained possession, swivelled and blasted the ball diagonally past David Morris. The next attack resulted in a ‘45’ for Annaghdown and following some fouling on the 30 metre line as Comer was set to take the kick, referee James Molloy awarded a free for Annaghdown closer to goal which Frankie Burke converted. There was now only one point between the sides.
Corofin introduced Shane Monaghan for Joe Canney and Martin Farragher for Alan O’Donovan and Farragher pointed with his first touch of the ball. However, Annaghdown’s were not lying down and they were rewarded a penalty after Comer was fouled in the square as he tried to field a high ball.
Corofin goalie David Morris made a great save from Frankie Burke’s penalty kick but the rebound fell into Burke’s advancing path and he made no mistake with his second touch. Annaghdown were now one point ahead, 2-4 to 0-9 and three minutes remaining.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GALWAY United need to guard against any kind of complacency when they make the short hop down the M18 this Friday to take on Treaty United at the Markets Field (7.45pm).
The game is a meeting of the two form teams in the division, and as in previous meetings between the sides, will have an additional edge given the number of former United players in the home side’s ranks, and the pair of Limerick lads playing for United.
There might have been just the eight meetings between the sides since Treaty became the latest iteration to represent Limerick in the League of Ireland in 2021, and while United have yet to lose to the men in the candy-cane strips, there has never been more than a goal in four of their eight wins.
The most recent of those was back in February, when Rob Slevin scored the only goal of the game in Eamonn Deacy Park after a tough battle against a side who made a slow start to the season, before finally finding their groove in the past month.
Having taken just three points from their first six games before finally getting a win against Longford Town, they reverted to type with just one point from their next three games, but are now on a run of four wins on the spin, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one.
Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory away to Longford Town last Saturday, and they could have won by double that against the only side to have beaten United this season. That in itself is a warning.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
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Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
While the Salthill Devon men’s team might have lost their grip on the Connacht Junior Cup that they held for two seasons, the club’s women’s side have picked up the mantle and on Sunday last in Headford were crowned provincial champions with a 4-3 win over Manulla.
Following midweek wins for Maree/Oranmore and Knocknacarra, the stage is now almost set for the semi-finals of the Michael Byrne Cup with Salthill Devon meeting St Bernard’s on Sunday in an outstanding quarter-final, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Maree/Oranmore, while Colga will face Knocknacarra in the other last four contest.
Just one league issue remains to be decided, with the Championship runners-up position up for grabs, as Dynamo Blues have to win their two remaining games in order to overtake Colemanstown United who have finished their programme.
WOMEN’S CONNACHT CUP FINAL
Salthill Devon 4
Manulla 3
Ellerose O’Flaherty scored twice as Salthill Devon were crowned provincial champions with a win over a Mayo side who were losing in the final for the second year in succession.
Backboned by a number of players who previously had League of Ireland experience with Galway WFC, Devon suffered an early set back when Jess Nolan put Manulla ahead, before O’Flaherty levelled matters with a cracking finish on 20 minutes, which was quickly followed by a long-range free-kick from Aoife Walsh.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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